Bartenders salary
in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Middle 50%
- $18,770–$31,830
- vs U.S. median
- -35%
- Metro rank
- #382 of 453
Bartenders in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro earn a median of $22,340 a year, based on BLS estimates for 2,200 jobs (May 2025). That is 35% below the U.S. median of $34,340 and 3% above the IA statewide median of $21,720. It ranks #382 of 453 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE2,200 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Bartenders pay in other IA metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $23,750 |
| Iowa City, IA | $21,900 |
| Dubuque, IA | $21,720 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,600 |
| Ames, IA | $21,580 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $21,540 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $21,320 |
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RELATED JOBS IN DES MOINES
Questions
What is the average Bartenders salary in Des Moines?
The BLS median is $22,340 a year (May 2025). Half of the 2,200 jobs pay between $18,770 and $31,830. The 10th percentile is $17,250 and the 90th is $45,880.
Is Des Moines a high-paying metro for Bartenders?
That is 35% below the U.S. median of $34,340 and 3% above the IA statewide median of $21,720. It ranks #382 of 453 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Bartenders make an hour in Des Moines?
About $10.74 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $22,340 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $9.02–$15.30 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.