Bartenders Salary in Texas
In Texas, bartenders earn $27,750 at the median, or about $13.34 an hour. The range runs from $17K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Texas?
About bartenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level bartenders (10th percentile) start around $17K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Bartenders salary by metro in Texas
26 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $30K | +10% | 18,290 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $30K | +9% | 5,950 |
| Midland | $29K | +3% | 420 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $28K | +2% | 560 |
| Corpus Christi | $28K | +1% | 1,070 |
| Tyler | $28K | -0% | 370 |
| San Angelo | $28K | -1% | 260 |
| Longview | $28K | -1% | 280 |
| Abilene | $27K | -2% | 330 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $27K | -3% | 13,980 |
| Laredo | $27K | -3% | 300 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $27K | -3% | 740 |
| Wichita Falls | $26K | -5% | 260 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $26K | -6% | 5,430 |
| Texarkana | $26K | -7% | 130 |
| Killeen-Temple | $26K | -7% | 470 |
| El Paso | $26K | -7% | 1,520 |
| Sherman-Denison | $26K | -7% | 180 |
| Victoria | $25K | -10% | 140 |
| Waco | $25K | -12% | 470 |
| College Station-Bryan | $24K | -13% | 860 |
| Odessa | $24K | -14% | 390 |
| Amarillo | $24K | -14% | 550 |
| Lubbock | $23K | -17% | 870 |
| Eagle Pass | $22K | -20% | 40 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $21K | -23% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 26 metros
Compare to other states
Track bartenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do bartenders make in Texas?
The median is $27,750 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $17,280, and experienced bartenders can clear $60,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,028/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 69.8% 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 Texas?
Texas 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 $30,331 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.