Bartenders pay range in Champaign
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $51,430 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Champaign earn between $31,200 and $32,380.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $31KMedian
- $32K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,260 | $3,022 | $17.43 |
| Median | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,380 | $2,698 | $15.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Champaign vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Bartenders in Champaign earn about the same as the Illinois average ($35,550) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $36,260 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $51,430 | 1,070 |
| Illinois | $35,550 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $46,520 | 43,010 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Champaign
On the average salary of $36,260, a single filer in Champaign takes home about $29,661 a year, or $2,472 a month and $1,141 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Champaign a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Champaign area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $36,260 buys what about $39,114 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Champaign ($50,700). A typical home costs $237,290, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Illinois cities
Champaign ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Champaign$36,260
- Kankakee$35,970
- Bloomington$35,960
- Chicago$35,740
- Springfield$35,620
- Peoria$35,140
- Decatur$35,020
- Rockford$34,450
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Champaign: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Champaign?
$17.43 an hour on average, and $15.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Champaign?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Champaign?
About $29,661 a year ($2,472 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,260.
Do bartenders earn more in Champaign than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Champaign-Urbana, IL (16580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.09, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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