Best states for a Bartender

Q: What is the best state for bartenders?

The best state to be a bartender is New Jersey based on bartender salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for bartenders?

The highest paying state for bartenders is Nebraska based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for bartenders?

The worst state for bartenders is Nebraska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to bartender jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for bartenders. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for bartenders, and people in Mililani Town earn the most in the field.

We figured that the best places for bartender jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that New Jersey is the best state for bartender jobs, whereas Nebraska is the worst.

If you're looking for a Bartender job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best states for bartenders in 2025

1. New Jersey
Total Bartender Jobs: 280
Average Annual Salary: $33,311
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $19,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1
Bartender Jobs in New Jersey
2. Arizona
Total Bartender Jobs: 312
Average Annual Salary: $28,184
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $17,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Bartender Jobs in Arizona
3. Hawaii
Total Bartender Jobs: 27
Average Annual Salary: $36,832
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $30,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Bartender Jobs in Hawaii
4. California
Total Bartender Jobs: 919
Average Annual Salary: $32,228
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $19,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Bartender Jobs in California
5. New York
Total Bartender Jobs: 343
Average Annual Salary: $31,884
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $18,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
0.76
Bartender Jobs in New York
6. Rhode Island
Total Bartender Jobs: 29
Average Annual Salary: $31,082
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $17,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Bartender Jobs in Rhode Island
7. Washington
Total Bartender Jobs: 142
Average Annual Salary: $32,671
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $21,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Bartender Jobs in Washington
8. Massachusetts
Total Bartender Jobs: 194
Average Annual Salary: $31,683
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $17,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
0.6
Bartender Jobs in Massachusetts
9. Wyoming
Total Bartender Jobs: 17
Average Annual Salary: $26,902
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $17,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Bartender Jobs in Wyoming
10. North Dakota
Total Bartender Jobs: 15
Average Annual Salary: $30,334
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $21,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
0.46
Bartender Jobs in North Dakota

Bartender JobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a bartender

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a bartender

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	New Jersey	$33,311	$19,000	9,005,644	280
2	Arizona	$28,184	$17,000	7,016,270	312
3	Hawaii	$36,832	$30,000	1,427,538	27
4	California	$32,228	$19,000	39,536,653	919
5	New York	$31,884	$18,000	19,849,399	343
6	Rhode Island	$31,082	$17,000	1,059,639	29
7	Washington	$32,671	$21,000	7,405,743	142
8	Massachusetts	$31,683	$17,000	6,859,819	194
9	Wyoming	$26,902	$17,000	579,315	17
10	North Dakota	$30,334	$21,000	755,393	15
11	Virginia	$26,474	$15,000	8,470,020	317
12	Colorado	$25,692	$16,000	5,607,154	253
13	Oregon	$29,442	$19,000	4,142,776	80
14	Maryland	$26,361	$15,000	6,052,177	239
15	North Carolina	$24,192	$14,000	10,273,419	340
16	Nevada	$23,103	$14,000	2,998,039	155
17	Kentucky	$23,867	$14,000	4,454,189	131
18	Michigan	$24,296	$15,000	9,962,311	246
19	Minnesota	$27,101	$18,000	5,576,606	154
20	Vermont	$28,261	$16,000	623,657	9
21	Louisiana	$23,272	$13,000	4,684,333	127
22	District of Columbia	$30,203	$17,000	693,972	27
23	Maine	$26,520	$15,000	1,335,907	16
24	Idaho	$25,450	$16,000	1,716,943	39
25	Florida	$22,859	$12,000	20,984,400	1,094
26	Ohio	$21,254	$13,000	11,658,609	428
27	Indiana	$22,389	$14,000	6,666,818	198
28	Iowa	$22,987	$15,000	3,145,711	103
29	Georgia	$22,321	$13,000	10,429,379	409
30	New Hampshire	$24,628	$13,000	1,342,795	35
31	Texas	$21,697	$12,000	28,304,596	941
32	New Mexico	$21,736	$13,000	2,088,070	67
33	Missouri	$22,052	$14,000	6,113,532	181
34	Illinois	$21,923	$14,000	12,802,023	417
35	Connecticut	$24,404	$13,000	3,588,184	67
36	Pennsylvania	$21,970	$12,000	12,805,537	364
37	Arkansas	$21,549	$13,000	3,004,279	71
38	Delaware	$22,326	$13,000	961,939	35
39	South Carolina	$20,328	$12,000	5,024,369	180
40	Kansas	$20,859	$13,000	2,913,123	91
41	Wisconsin	$20,372	$13,000	5,795,483	168
42	Tennessee	$18,241	$11,000	6,715,984	277
43	West Virginia	$20,540	$12,000	1,815,857	40
44	South Dakota	$20,871	$14,000	869,666	18
45	Montana	$20,826	$14,000	1,050,493	29
46	Oklahoma	$18,313	$11,000	3,930,864	115
47	Alabama	$19,872	$11,000	4,874,747	129
48	Alaska	$18,305	$14,000	739,795	12
49	Utah	$18,632	$11,000	3,101,833	83
50	Mississippi	$17,685	$10,000	2,984,100	53
51	Nebraska	$17,582	$11,000	1,920,076	54

Highest paying states for bartenders

Rank	State	Avg. Bartender Salary
1	New Jersey	$33,311
2	Arizona	$28,184
3	Hawaii	$36,832
4	California	$32,228
5	New York	$31,884
6	Rhode Island	$31,082
7	Washington	$32,671
8	Massachusetts	$31,683
9	Wyoming	$26,902
10	North Dakota	$30,334
11	Virginia	$26,474
12	Colorado	$25,692
13	Oregon	$29,442
14	Maryland	$26,361
15	North Carolina	$24,192
16	Nevada	$23,103
17	Kentucky	$23,867
18	Michigan	$24,296
19	Minnesota	$27,101
20	Vermont	$28,261
21	Louisiana	$23,272
22	District of Columbia	$30,203
23	Maine	$26,520
24	Idaho	$25,450
25	Florida	$22,859
26	Ohio	$21,254
27	Indiana	$22,389
28	Iowa	$22,987
29	Georgia	$22,321
30	New Hampshire	$24,628
31	Texas	$21,697
32	New Mexico	$21,736
33	Missouri	$22,052
34	Illinois	$21,923
35	Connecticut	$24,404
36	Pennsylvania	$21,970
37	Arkansas	$21,549
38	Delaware	$22,326
39	South Carolina	$20,328
40	Kansas	$20,859
41	Wisconsin	$20,372
42	Tennessee	$18,241
43	West Virginia	$20,540
44	South Dakota	$20,871
45	Montana	$20,826
46	Oklahoma	$18,313
47	Alabama	$19,872
48	Alaska	$18,305
49	Utah	$18,632
50	Mississippi	$17,685
51	Nebraska	$17,582

Bartender best states FAQs

What is the best state for bartenders?

What is the highest paying state for bartenders?

What is the worst state for bartenders?

Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

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Best states for Bartenders

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total Bartender Jobs:	280
Average Annual Salary:	$33,311
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$19,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$58,000
Location Quotient:	1

Best states for a Bartender

If you're looking for a Bartender job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best states for bartenders in 2025

1. New Jersey

2. Arizona

3. Hawaii

4. California

5. New York

6. Rhode Island

7. Washington

8. Massachusetts

9. Wyoming

10. North Dakota