Knoxville, TN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Bartender Salary in Knoxville, TN

In the Knoxville, TN metropolitan area, bartenders earned a median annual wage of $27,700 ($13.32/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $16,100/year and the 90th was $53,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,421 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$27,700$13.32 per hour · $2,308 monthly
10th Percentile$16,100$7.74/hr base
25th Percentile$18,300$8.80/hr base
75th Percentile$39,200$18.85/hr base
90th Percentile$53,100$25.53/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$27,700
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$27,700
Net 88%
Fed 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,421After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,035Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$939Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,160 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,119 / yr

Bartenders Wage Percentiles in Knoxville, TN

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Bartenders in the Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$7.74/hr$1,342$16,100$14,868
25th Percentile$8.80/hr$1,525$18,300$16,680
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.32/hr$2,308$27,700$24,421
75th Percentile$18.85/hr$3,267$39,200$33,677
90th Percentile$25.53/hr$4,425$53,100$44,846

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Knoxville, TN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$27,700 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$72,422Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.67.4% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio38.2%of area median income

Compare bartenders salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Tennessee:

Frequently Asked Questions About Bartenders Pay in Knoxville, TN

What is the median salary for bartenders in Knoxville, TN?

The official BLS median annual wage for bartenders in Knoxville, TN is $27,700, which equates to approximately $2,308 per month or $13.32 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for bartenders in Knoxville, TN?

The median hourly wage for bartenders in Knoxville, TN is $13.32 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $7.74/hour and one in ten earned more than $25.53/hour.

What is the pay range for bartenders in Knoxville, TN?

BLS wage estimates for bartenders in Knoxville, TN span from $16,100 at the 10th percentile to $18,300 at the 25th, $39,200 at the 75th, and $53,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do bartenders take home after taxes in Knoxville, TN?

On a median gross salary of $27,700, an estimated $24,421 lands in net take-home pay per year ($939 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,279 (an effective rate of 11.8%).

How much do bartenders make per month in Knoxville, TN?

On the median annual salary of $27,700, gross monthly income is $2,308. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,035 per month (or $939 every two weeks).

Is $27,700 a good salary in Knoxville, TN?

At $27,700, the median salary for bartenders is 38.2% of the Knoxville, TN median household income ($72,422). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.6, making regional consumer goods and services 7.4% cheaper than the U.S. average.