Bartenders Salary
In Vermont, bartenders earn $45,450 at the median, or about $21.85 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.95), that's roughly $45,022 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,498/month, about 47.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Vermont. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Vermont?
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What this looks like in Vermont
Vermont sits well above the national pay line for bartenders, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $34K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,498/month, which is 47.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.95) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Vermont
Entry-level bartenders (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Bartenders salary by metro in Vermont
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington | $49K | +8% | 780 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Vermont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bartender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vermont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 47.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,498/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for bartenders in Vermont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bartenders typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,798/month. At HUD’s $1,498/month FMR, rent would take 83% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is bartender a high-paying job in Vermont?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $45K here vs. $34K nationally.
How does Vermont compare to the national average for bartenders?
Vermont pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bartenders make in Vermont?
The median is $45,450 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,970, and experienced bartenders can clear $91,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Vermont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,127/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,498/month, which eats 47.9% 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 Vermont?
Vermont has a Regional Price Parity of 100.95 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bartenders salary is worth about $45,022 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.