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Bartenders Salary in California

What Bartenders earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 8 counties.

Average in CA
$36,433
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
12 of 23
published states
Workers in state
70,970
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
3
8 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Bartenders pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$39,670$33,405−$3,687Alameda County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$36,260$30,801−$6,830San Diego County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$35,510$30,229−$8,207Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Bartenders in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$39,670$33,405−$3,687
2Contra Costa County, CA$39,670$33,405−$3,687
3San Diego County, CA$36,260$30,801−$6,830
4Los Angeles County, CA$35,510$30,229−$8,207
5Orange County, CA$35,510$30,229−$10,703
6San Francisco County, CA$39,670$33,405−$12,243
7San Mateo County, CA$39,670$33,405−$12,243
8Marin County, CA$39,670$33,405−$12,243

Bartenders pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Bartenders in California is $36,433, based on 70,970 workers. Among the 23 states with published data, that ranks number 12. The BLS national median for the occupation is $34,340, so California averages 6.1% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $39,670 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $35,510 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $4,160 across 3 wage areas.

Cost of living for Bartenders in California

We compare 8 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, -$3,687. In Marin County, CA the basics cost $12,243 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 0 of the 8 counties.

Bartenders in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Bartenders are New York ($56,321), New Jersey ($52,968), Washington ($52,463) and District of Columbia ($48,030).

Frequently asked questions: Bartenders in California

How much do Bartenders earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $36,433, from $35,510 to $39,670 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Bartenders?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics (-$3,687). Contra Costa County, CA follows at -$3,687.