Bartenders Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
In Tuscaloosa, AL, bartenders earn $22,420 at the median, or about $10.78 an hour. The range runs from $17K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $25,559 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,169/month — about 73.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $22K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). 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, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level bartenders (10th percentile) start around $17K. Mid-career wages sit at $22K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $31K 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 Tuscaloosa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do bartenders make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $22,420 a year, that works out to about $11 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $17,250, and experienced bartenders can clear $48,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $22K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,584/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 73.8% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (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 $25,559 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.