Maryland · SOC 35-3011
Bartenders in Maryland
State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)
Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Maryland; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.
Median Salary
$37,580
per year in this state
+9% above
National Median
$34,340
per year nationally
Hourly Rate
$18.07/hr
median hourly
Employment
13,020
jobs in MD
Salary Range in Maryland
Annual Salary Distribution
What This Means for Bartenders in Maryland
According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Maryland ranks #14 of 54 states and territories for Bartenders pay, the middle tier (26th percentile) nationally. Bartenders working in Maryland earn a median salary of $37,580, which is +9% above the national median of $34,340. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $31,200 at the 10th percentile to $69,730 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.
This page captures the Bartenders labor market inside Maryland using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $37,580 ($18.07/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 13,020 workers in this SOC code (35-3011). Relative to the national median of $34,340, the state estimate is +9% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.
Within Maryland, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,200, the 25th earns $34,250, the 75th reaches $51,530, and the 90th hits $69,730. The upper boundary is roughly 2.2× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.
Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Maryland where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.
Top Paying Jobs in Maryland
Similar Occupations in Maryland
Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.
Other states with similar Bartenders pay or employment
Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Maryland. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.
Similar median pay
Nearest state medians ($37,580 here).
- Bartenders in Massachusetts · $37,440
- Bartenders in Colorado · $38,170
- Bartenders in New Mexico · $36,980
- Bartenders in Delaware · $36,840
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (13,020 jobs here; floor 1,000).
- Bartenders in Indiana · 12,880
- Bartenders in Virginia · 13,370
- Bartenders in Oregon · 11,950
- Bartenders in Missouri · 14,410
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 35-3011. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Related federal data for Maryland
📊 BLS OEWS - Maryland
Federal wage estimates by occupation
📈 BLS Employment Projections
10-year occupation growth, national
🏢 BLS QCEW state series
Quarterly employment and wage program (BLS)
🏛️ OPM FedScope
Federal workforce data by agency and location
⚖️ OSHA Establishment Search
Federal workplace-safety records
🏠 HUD Fair Market Rents
Federal area-level rent benchmarks
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).
Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.
Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Maryland.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Maryland figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.