Bartenders pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,280 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Rochester earn between $23,830 and $31,470.
- $23K10th
- $24K25th
- $27KMedian
- $31K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,370 | $2,531 | $14.60 |
| Median | $27,000 | $2,250 | $12.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,830 | $1,986 | $11.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,470 | $2,622 | $15.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Bartenders in Rochester earn about the same as the Minnesota average ($30,680) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $30,370 | $27,000 | $23,210 | $39,280 | 940 |
| Minnesota | $30,680 | $26,900 | $23,150 | $38,790 | 24,420 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $30,370, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $25,776 a year, or $2,148 a month and $991 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $30,370 buys what about $33,439 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 11.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($31,700).
- Minneapolis$31,700
- Rochester$30,370
- St. Cloud$29,730
- Mankato$29,400
- Duluth$27,760
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 Rochester: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Rochester?
$14.60 an hour on average, and $12.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Rochester?
About $25,776 a year ($2,148 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,370. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do bartenders earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.57, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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