Salaries › Bartender › North Carolina
Bartender Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$17.53 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,537/year ($2,545/month) for a single filer
Bartender pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $16,180 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $21,740 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,470 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $57,010 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $74,450 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 20,070 Bartender jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 35-3011, “Bartenders”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Bartender salary of $36,470 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,537 — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
| Gross (median) | $36,470 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,196 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,790 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$946 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,537 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,545 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Bartender make in North Carolina?
- The median Bartender salary in North Carolina is $36,470 per year ($17.53 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $21,740 and $57,010.
- What is the take-home pay for a Bartender in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $36,470, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $30,537 per year ($2,545 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
- How many Bartender jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 20,070 Bartender jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Bartenders
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.