Bartender salary in South Carolina
Bartenders in South Carolina earn a median of $19,370 a year ($9.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,430 for the top 10%. That is 44% lower than the national median of $34,340. South Carolina ranks 51st of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 4.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $17,190 | $8.26 |
| Median | $19,370 | $9.31 |
| 75th percentile | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| Average (mean) | $28,440 | $13.67 |
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 | $1,614.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $807.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $745 |
| Weekly | $372.50 |
| Hourly | $9.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in South Carolina
| 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 |
| Columbia, SC | $19,230 | 1,070 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,370 | $8.83 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,740 | $15.26 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,420 | $13.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Dishwasher | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,830 | $12.90 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,230 | $10.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for bartenders in South Carolina is $19,370 a year, or $9.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of bartenders in South Carolina earn at least $59,430 a year. The top 25% earn $31,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $17,190 or less.
How many bartenders work in South Carolina?
About 10,680 bartenders are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.