Baker salary in Columbia, SC
Bakers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $33,800 a year ($16.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,920 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $37,160. Pay here is 5% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $35,460. There are 1.1 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $33,580, close to the median.
Pay range for bakers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,820 | $11.45 |
| 25th percentile | $28,620 | $13.76 |
| Median | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 75th percentile | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,920 | $20.63 |
| Average (mean) | $33,580 | $16.14 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,816.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,408.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,300 |
| Weekly | $650 |
| Hourly | $16.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $39,080 | 100 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $39,070 | 620 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,580 | 2,540 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $34,820 | 220 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $34,590 | 690 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $31,460 | 270 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $30,700 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
See Baker pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,230 | $20.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $39,560 | $19.02 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for bakers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $33,800 a year, or $16.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of bakers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $42,920 a year. The top 25% earn $37,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,820 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $28,620 or less.
How many bakers work in Columbia, SC?
About 440 bakers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.