Sommelier Salary
Sommeliers are wine professionals who curate wine lists, recommend pairings, and manage wine programs for restaurants and hotels.
Sommelier Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level sommeliers earn around $35,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $65,000. Senior-level sommeliers can earn $118,000 or more.
Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for sommeliers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $32,000, while the top 10% earn $125,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $62,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $125,000 |
Sommelier Salary by State
Sommelier salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $105,400, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $51,460.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $105,400 | Details → |
| #2 California | $85,560 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $83,700 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $76,880 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $75,640 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $71,300 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $71,300 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $69,440 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $68,200 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $68,200 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $65,100 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $65,100 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $65,100 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $64,480 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $62,620 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $62,620 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $60,760 | Details → |
| #18 Maine | $60,760 | Details → |
| #19 Arizona | $60,140 | Details → |
| #20 Minnesota | $60,140 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $60,140 | Details → |
| #22 Utah | $60,140 | Details → |
| #23 Pennsylvania | $59,520 | Details → |
| #24 Illinois | $58,900 | Details → |
| #25 Montana | $58,900 | Details → |
| #26 Idaho | $58,280 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $57,660 | Details → |
| #28 New Mexico | $57,660 | Details → |
| #29 North Carolina | $57,040 | Details → |
| #30 Texas | $57,040 | Details → |
| #31 Wisconsin | $57,040 | Details → |
| #32 Wyoming | $57,040 | Details → |
| #33 Louisiana | $56,420 | Details → |
| #34 Indiana | $55,800 | Details → |
| #35 Michigan | $55,800 | Details → |
| #36 Nebraska | $55,800 | Details → |
| #37 North Dakota | $55,800 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $55,800 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $55,180 | Details → |
| #40 South Carolina | $55,180 | Details → |
| #41 Tennessee | $55,180 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $54,560 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $54,560 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $53,940 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $53,940 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $53,940 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $53,320 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $52,080 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $52,080 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $51,460 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Curate restaurant wine lists
- ● Recommend food and wine pairings
- ● Manage wine inventory and purchasing
- ● Train staff on wine service
- ● Conduct wine tastings and events
Top Skills
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Outlook
Much faster than average — projected 12% growth over the next decade