Bartender Salary in North Carolina
Median annual pay in North Carolina
$36,470
$17.53/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in North Carolina
$38,664
Regional Price Parity: 94.326 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($34,340): +$2,130 (+6.2%)
North Carolina ranks 18th of 51 states by median pay, and 11th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $16,180 | $7.78 |
| 25th percentile | $21,740 | $10.45 |
| Median | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| 75th percentile | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| 90th percentile | $74,450 | $35.79 |
Employment
- Employment in North Carolina
- 20,070
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in North Carolina
- $36,470
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $34,340
- Difference
- +$2,130 (+6.2%)
Cost of living
$36,470 ÷ 94.326 × 100 = $38,664
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | ||
| 16th | $36,840 | $36,911 16th |
| Michigan | ||
| 17th | $36,780 | $38,226 12th |
| North Carolina This page | ||
| 18th | $36,470 | $38,664 11th |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 19th | $36,410 | $35,598 18th |
| California | ||
| 20th | $36,220 | $32,713 26th |
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 North Carolina
$61,130/year North Carolina
- 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 Georgia
$22,830/year Georgia
- Bartender salary in South Carolina
$19,370/year South Carolina
- Bartender salary in Tennessee
$27,480/year Tennessee
- Bartender salary in Virginia
$47,070/year 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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