Food Service Manager salary in Columbia, SC
Food Service Managers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $60,860 a year ($29.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 860 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,320 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $69,390. Pay here is 8% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $66,190. There are 2.2 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,990 | $19.23 |
| 25th percentile | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| Median | $60,860 | $29.26 |
| 75th percentile | $77,510 | $37.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,320 | $46.79 |
| Average (mean) | $66,290 | $31.87 |
Half of food service managers 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 | $5,071.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,535.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,340.77 |
| Weekly | $1,170.38 |
| Hourly | $29.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Service Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $75,700 | 960 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $75,460 | 2,760 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $74,870 | 320 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $73,260 | 590 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $64,390 | 800 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $63,990 | 460 |
| Sumter, SC | $62,750 | 80 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $61,120 | 280 |
| Florence, SC | $56,010 | 220 |
Highest-paying states for food service managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $95,190 |
| Massachusetts | $92,240 |
| Hawaii | $87,800 |
| New York | $84,200 |
| Rhode Island | $82,850 |
| Alaska | $82,030 |
| District of Columbia | $81,680 |
| Colorado | $79,870 |
| Minnesota | $79,820 |
| California | $78,260 |
See Food Service Manager pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $107,280 | $51.58 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $101,830 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| Construction Manager | $112,180 | $53.93 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $101,150 | $48.63 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $78,240 | $37.61 |
| Managers, All Other | $129,960 | $62.48 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $162,260 | $78.01 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $100,440 | $48.29 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $46,510 | $22.36 |
| Emergency Management Director | $71,110 | $34.19 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Lodging Manager | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $66,400 | $31.92 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9051. 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 service manager make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for food service managers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $60,860 a year, or $29.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of food service managers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $97,320 a year. The top 25% earn $77,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,990 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $50,020 or less.
How many food service managers work in Columbia, SC?
About 860 food service managers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.