Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,510 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbia earn between $29,500 and $35,630.
- $24K10th
- $30K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,160 | $2,597 | $14.98 |
| Median | $31,400 | $2,617 | $15.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,500 | $2,458 | $14.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,630 | $2,969 | $17.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($31,270) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $31,160 | $31,400 | $24,500 | $36,510 | 380 |
| South Carolina | $31,270 | $31,740 | $19,100 | $37,480 | 2,990 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $31,160, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $26,895 a year, or $2,241 a month and $1,034 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $31,160 buys what about $33,269 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($33,300).
- Hilton Head Island$33,300
- Spartanburg$32,390
- Charleston$31,950
- Columbia$31,160
- Greenville$31,010
- Florence$29,820
- Myrtle Beach$27,550
Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Columbia: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Columbia?
$14.98 an hour on average, and $15.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Columbia?
About $26,895 a year ($2,241 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,160.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3041; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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