Bartenders Salary in Richmond, VA
In Richmond, VA, bartenders earn $38,600 at the median, or about $18.56 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $39,444 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,655/month — about 62.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Richmond?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About bartenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level bartenders (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Bartenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $69K | +105% | 3,640 |
| New York | $61K | +81% | 42,550 |
| District of Columbia | $55K | +64% | 4,890 |
| Vermont | $54K | +62% | 2,210 |
| Washington | $48K | +44% | 19,140 |
| Maine | $48K | +42% | 3,060 |
| Virginia | $47K | +40% | 15,870 |
| New Jersey | $46K | +36% | 17,500 |
| Arizona | $41K | +22% | 13,360 |
| Michigan | $40K | +18% | 19,530 |
| Delaware | $36K | +9% | 2,380 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +7% | 21,080 |
| California | $36K | +7% | 69,790 |
| Maryland | $36K | +7% | 13,770 |
| Connecticut | $34K | +3% | 8,280 |
| Utah | $34K | +2% | 3,320 |
| Oregon | $34K | +1% | 11,940 |
| Rhode Island | $34K | +1% | 3,560 |
| North Carolina | $32K | -3% | 19,500 |
| New Mexico | $31K | -6% | 3,460 |
| Florida | $31K | -8% | 54,800 |
| Alaska | $30K | -11% | 2,070 |
| Ohio | $30K | -11% | 27,530 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -12% | 6,500 |
| Illinois | $29K | -13% | 40,520 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -13% | 3,120 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -15% | 6,210 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -15% | 3,520 |
| North Dakota | $28K | -15% | 3,890 |
| New Hampshire | $28K | -16% | 3,830 |
| Kansas | $28K | -17% | 5,740 |
| Texas | $28K | -17% | 57,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $27K | -19% | 34,740 |
| Missouri | $27K | -19% | 14,530 |
| Minnesota | $27K | -20% | 21,570 |
| Arkansas | $26K | -22% | 2,630 |
| Nevada | $26K | -23% | 17,090 |
| Mississippi | $25K | -26% | 2,800 |
| Georgia | $24K | -30% | 14,980 |
| Idaho | $23K | -32% | 3,990 |
| Montana | $23K | -32% | 5,130 |
| Indiana | $23K | -32% | 12,830 |
| Alabama | $23K | -32% | 5,850 |
| Tennessee | $23K | -32% | 10,380 |
| Wisconsin | $23K | -33% | 29,340 |
| Iowa | $23K | -33% | 8,740 |
| Wyoming | $22K | -34% | 2,740 |
| Oklahoma | $22K | -36% | 5,580 |
| Louisiana | $20K | -41% | 8,960 |
| South Carolina | $18K | -45% | 11,490 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track bartenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Richmond numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do bartenders make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $38,600 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,210, and experienced bartenders can clear $78,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,613/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 63.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a bartenders salary go in Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bartenders salary is worth about $39,444 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.