Bartenders Salary
In Colorado, bartenders earn $38,170 at the median, or about $18.35 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Colorado?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level bartenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Bartenders salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $46K | +21% | 1,210 |
| Boulder | $43K | +11% | 970 |
| Colorado Springs | $38K | -1% | 1,720 |
| Greeley | $38K | -1% | 510 |
| Pueblo | $38K | -1% | 330 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $37K | -3% | 9,430 |
| Grand Junction | $36K | -5% | 370 |
Compare to other states
Track bartenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for bartenders in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bartenders typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,848/month.
Is bartender a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $38K here vs. $34K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for bartenders?
Colorado pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s +11%.
How much do bartenders make in Colorado?
The median is $38,170 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,800, and experienced bartenders can clear $94,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,586/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a bartenders salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bartenders salary is worth about $38,170 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bartenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.