Bartender Salary in Kentucky
Median annual pay in Kentucky
$28,780
$13.84/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in Kentucky
$31,921
Regional Price Parity: 90.159 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($34,340): −$5,560 (−16.2%)
Kentucky ranks 32nd of 51 states by median pay, and 30th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $16,110 | $7.75 |
| 25th percentile | $17,920 | $8.62 |
| Median | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| 75th percentile | $45,770 | $22.01 |
| 90th percentile | $63,140 | $30.36 |
Employment
- Employment in Kentucky
- 6,870
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in Kentucky
- $28,780
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $34,340
- Difference
- −$5,560 (−16.2%)
Cost of living
$28,780 ÷ 90.159 × 100 = $31,921
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | ||
| 30th | $29,040 | $32,644 27th |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 31st | $28,800 | $27,648 40th |
| Kentucky This page | ||
| 32nd | $28,780 | $31,921 30th |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 33rd | $28,420 | $29,127 36th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 34th | $28,320 | $32,569 28th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Waiter and Waitress salary in the U.S.
$35,230/year U.S.
- Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in the U.S.
$31,200/year U.S.
- Food Preparation Worker salary in the U.S.
$35,320/year U.S.
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Kentucky
$48,070/year Kentucky
- Food Service Manager salary in the U.S.
$69,390/year U.S.
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner salary in the U.S.
$35,510/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +5.0%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- No formal educational credential
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Bartender salary in nearby places
- Bartender salary in Illinois
$31,200/year Illinois
- Bartender salary in Indiana
$22,770/year Indiana
- Bartender salary in Missouri
$30,090/year Missouri
- Bartender salary in Ohio
$30,880/year Ohio
- Bartender salary in Tennessee
$27,480/year Tennessee
- Bartender salary in Virginia
$47,070/year Virginia
- Bartender salary in West Virginia
$29,630/year West Virginia
- Bartender salary in the U.S.
$34,340/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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