How much does a food server make in Charleston?
$33,970a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $16.33 an hour or $2,831 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.33
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 154 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 890
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $18,460Median: $33,970Highest 10%: $40,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,460 | $8.88 | |
| 25th | $28,260 | $13.59 | |
| Median | $33,970 | $16.33 | |
| 75th | $36,710 | $17.65 | |
| 90th | $40,120 | $19.29 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $34,480 |
| Charlotte, NC | $33,550 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $33,390 |
| Greenville, SC | $31,670 |
| Columbia, SC | $31,400 |
| Augusta, GA | $30,590 |
| Florence, SC | $29,470 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,280 |
Related jobs in Charleston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $74,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,620 |
| Cook | $36,990 |
| Cook | $36,710 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,220 |
| Cook | $32,380 |
| Cook | $32,020 |
| Dishwasher | $31,800 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,140 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Charleston?
The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $16.33 ($33,970 a year).
Do food servers make more in Charleston than the national average?
No: $33,970 against $35,360 nationally, 4% less.
How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $31,740, so Charleston pays 7% more.
Where does Charleston rank for food server pay?
154 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $18,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $40,120 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.