Bartenders pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,030 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Paducah earn between $16,410 and $33,530.
- $15K10th
- $16K25th
- $26KMedian
- $34K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,450 | $2,454 | $14.16 |
| Median | $26,350 | $2,196 | $12.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $16,410 | $1,368 | $7.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,530 | $2,794 | $16.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Bartenders in Paducah earn 16% less than the Kentucky average ($34,970) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $29,450 | $26,350 | $15,080 | $57,030 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $34,970 | $28,780 | $16,110 | $63,140 | 6,870 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $29,450, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $24,341 a year, or $2,028 a month and $936 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $24,526 | $2,044 |
| Working in KY | $24,341 | $2,028 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $29,450 buys what about $34,211 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($36,730).
- Lexington$36,730
- Louisville$35,660
- Elizabethtown$34,000
- Owensboro$33,620
- Bowling Green$31,840
- Paducah$29,450
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 Paducah: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Paducah?
$14.16 an hour on average, and $12.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $16,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Paducah?
About $24,341 a year ($2,028 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,450. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do bartenders earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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