Bartenders Salary in Connecticut
The median for bartenders in Connecticut is $38,780 a year, somewhat above the national $34,340 (+13%); the state ranks 11th of 51 states by median. That is 35% less than the median across all occupations in Connecticut ($59,690). Among neighbouring states, New York pays more (up to $61,210 in New York) and Massachusetts and Rhode Island pay less (down to $36,410 in Rhode Island). Connecticut employs 7,680 bartenders, 4.53 per 1,000 jobs, the 28th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.93 is close to the national share.
Connecticut vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $16.35 | $16.35 | $18.64 | $29.87 | $39.31 | $24.53 | 7,680 | 4.53 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $34,010 | $34,010 | $38,780 | $62,120 | $81,760 | $51,020 | ||||
| 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
- 11th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 28th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.93
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.53
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Connecticut'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 Connecticut
5 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $21.71 | $45,150 | $34,010 | $84,580 | 1,770 | 4.38 | 0.90 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $21.13 | $43,950 | $34,010 | $93,640 | 900 | 7.09 | 1.46 |
| New Haven, CT | $18.39 | $38,260 | $34,010 | $81,280 | 1,300 | 4.60 | 0.95 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $17.93 | $37,290 | $34,010 | $80,910 | 2,720 | 4.53 | 0.93 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $17.93 | $37,290 | $34,010 | $81,480 | 680 | 4.24 | 0.87 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $17.75 | $36,930 | $34,010 | $78,310 | 300 | 4.54 | 0.93 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $18.64 | $38,780 | 7,680 | 0.93 |
| Massachusetts | $18.00 | $37,440 | 19,850 | 1.12 |
| New York | $29.43 | $61,210 | 43,130 | 0.92 |
| Rhode Island | $17.51 | $36,410 | 3,170 | 1.30 |
See the national page for Bartenders (every state ranked) and the Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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.