Bartenders Salary in Colorado
The median for bartenders in Colorado is $38,170 a year, somewhat above the national $34,340 (+11%); the state ranks 12th of 51 states by median. That is 36% less than the median across all occupations in Colorado ($59,800). Among neighbouring states, Arizona pays more (up to $45,070 in Arizona) and New Mexico, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming pay less (down to $22,030 in Wyoming). Colorado employs 17,000 bartenders, 5.92 per 1,000 jobs, the 13th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.22 means the occupation is more concentrated in Colorado than nationally.
Colorado vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $14.81 | $15.59 | $18.35 | $30.12 | $45.62 | $24.64 | 17,000 | 5.92 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $30,800 | $32,430 | $38,170 | $62,640 | $94,880 | $51,250 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $9.67 | $13.17 | $16.51 | $22.87 | $35.47 | $19.61 | 756,390 | – | – |
| Annual | $20,110 | $27,400 | $34,340 | $47,570 | $73,770 | $40,790 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 12th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 13th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.22
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.92
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Colorado's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Colorado
7 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Colorado publish a row for bartenders, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $22.26 | $46,290 | $30,800 | $84,240 | 1,210 | 7.15 | 1.47 |
| Boulder, CO | $20.44 | $42,520 | $33,190 | $92,040 | 970 | 5.06 | 1.04 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $18.13 | $37,700 | $30,800 | $82,960 | 1,720 | 5.44 | 1.12 |
| Greeley, CO | $18.11 | $37,680 | $30,800 | $91,020 | 510 | 4.30 | 0.88 |
| Pueblo, CO | $18.09 | $37,630 | $30,800 | $77,260 | 330 | 5.32 | 1.09 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $17.88 | $37,180 | $31,080 | $97,950 | 9,430 | 5.86 | 1.20 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $17.39 | $36,180 | $30,800 | $81,900 | 370 | 5.46 | 1.12 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $20.53 | $42,690 | $30,800 | $92,360 | 840 | 7.72 | 1.59 |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $19.05 | $39,620 | $30,800 | $75,040 | 270 | 3.78 | 0.78 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $18.80 | $39,110 | $30,800 | $90,110 | 1,350 | 10.21 | 2.10 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Bartenders (every state ranked) and the Colorado wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Colorado estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.