Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Columbia, SC
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $31,400 a year ($15.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,510 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 1% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $31,740. There are 0.96 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $31,160, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| 25th percentile | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| Median | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| 75th percentile | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Average (mean) | $31,160 | $14.98 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,616.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,308.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,207.69 |
| Weekly | $603.85 |
| Hourly | $15.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $34,480 | 220 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $33,970 | 890 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,550 | 2,260 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $33,390 | 130 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $31,670 | 450 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $30,590 | 250 |
| Florence, SC | $29,470 | 90 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,280 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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 |
| Bartender | $19,230 | $9.25 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Columbia, SC metro area is $31,400 a year, or $15.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $36,510 a year. The top 25% earn $35,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,500 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $29,500 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Columbia, SC?
About 380 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.