Bartender salary in Columbia, SC
Bartenders in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $19,230 a year ($9.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,800 for the top 10%. That is 44% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $19,370. There are 2.7 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $31,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,120 | $7.27 |
| 25th percentile | $17,420 | $8.38 |
| Median | $19,230 | $9.25 |
| 75th percentile | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Average (mean) | $31,930 | $15.35 |
Half of bartenders 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 | $1,602.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $801.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $739.62 |
| Weekly | $369.81 |
| Hourly | $9.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,390 | 5,660 |
| Florence, SC | $22,990 | 240 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,100 | 730 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $20,090 | 440 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $20,030 | 660 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $19,630 | 3,110 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $19,600 | 1,640 |
| Sumter, SC | $18,040 | 100 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $17,420 | 1,800 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,810 | $8.56 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Dishwasher | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,070 | $11.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,920 | $10.06 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. 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 bartender make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for bartenders in the Columbia, SC metro area is $19,230 a year, or $9.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $72,800 a year. The top 25% earn $35,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,120 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $17,420 or less.
How many bartenders work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,070 bartenders are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.