The median annual wage for Bartenders in California is $35,900 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $45,750.
Pay spans roughly $33,340 at the 10th percentile to $79,780 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $17.26 per hour. An estimated 69,790 people work as bartenders in California.
| Median (annual) | $35,900 |
| Mean (annual) | $45,750 |
| Median (hourly) | $17.26 |
| 10th percentile | $33,340 |
| 90th percentile | $79,780 |
| Employment | 69,790 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.