Bartenders Salary in Tennessee
In Tennessee, bartenders earn a median $27,480 a year, well below the national median of $34,340 (−20%); the state ranks 37th of 51 states by median. That is 42% less than the median across all occupations in Tennessee ($47,380). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama pay more (up to $47,070 in Virginia) and Arkansas and Georgia pay less (down to $22,830 in Georgia). Tennessee employs 10,330 bartenders, 3.15 per 1,000 jobs, the 25th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.65 means it is less common in Tennessee than nationally.
Tennessee vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $7.68 | $8.73 | $13.21 | $18.72 | $25.36 | $14.99 | 10,330 | 3.15 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $15,970 | $18,160 | $27,480 | $38,930 | $52,740 | $31,180 | ||||
| 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
- 37th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 25th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.65
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.15
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Tennessee'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 Tennessee
10 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $15.02 | $31,240 | $16,190 | $60,980 | 280 | 2.30 | 0.47 |
| Knoxville, TN | $13.87 | $28,860 | $15,350 | $54,360 | 1,400 | 3.30 | 0.68 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $13.80 | $28,710 | $16,560 | $56,350 | 1,380 | 2.25 | 0.46 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $13.55 | $28,190 | $16,740 | $57,470 | 4,540 | 4.13 | 0.85 |
| Cleveland, TN | $12.36 | $25,710 | $16,060 | $52,740 | 110 | 2.52 | 0.52 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $12.33 | $25,650 | $15,330 | $51,350 | 890 | 3.32 | 0.68 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $11.65 | $24,230 | $15,080 | $49,070 | 290 | 2.85 | 0.58 |
| Morristown, TN | $11.41 | $23,730 | $16,790 | $57,690 | 70 | 1.47 | 0.30 |
| Jackson, TN | $10.59 | $22,030 | $15,370 | $51,870 | 180 | 2.13 | 0.44 |
| Johnson City, TN | $10.43 | $21,700 | $15,080 | $47,650 | 270 | 3.27 | 0.67 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $11.99 | $24,940 | $15,280 | $51,510 | 230 | 1.98 | 0.41 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $11.31 | $23,520 | $15,080 | $50,750 | 180 | 1.62 | 0.33 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $10.81 | $22,490 | $15,080 | $47,590 | 820 | 5.79 | 1.19 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $9.93 | $20,650 | $15,080 | $48,680 | 170 | 1.47 | 0.30 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $13.21 | $27,480 | 10,330 | 0.65 |
| Alabama | $13.45 | $27,980 | 6,560 | 0.64 |
| Arkansas | $12.06 | $25,090 | 3,020 | 0.48 |
| Georgia | $10.98 | $22,830 | 14,600 | 0.61 |
| Kentucky | $13.84 | $28,780 | 6,870 | 0.71 |
| Missouri | $14.47 | $30,090 | 14,410 | 1.01 |
| Mississippi | $13.62 | $28,320 | 2,770 | 0.49 |
| North Carolina | $17.53 | $36,470 | 20,070 | 0.83 |
| Virginia | $22.63 | $47,070 | 13,370 | 0.67 |
See the national page for Bartenders (every state ranked) and the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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.