How much does a food server make in Columbia?
$31,400a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $15.10 an hour or $2,617 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.10
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 221 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,500Median: $31,400Highest 10%: $36,510
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,500 | $11.78 | |
| 25th | $29,500 | $14.18 | |
| Median | $31,400 | $15.10 | |
| 75th | $35,630 | $17.13 | |
| 90th | $36,510 | $17.55 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $34,480 |
| Charleston, SC | $33,970 |
| Charlotte, NC | $33,550 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $33,390 |
| Greenville, SC | $31,670 |
| Augusta, GA | $30,590 |
| Florence, SC | $29,470 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,280 |
Related jobs in Columbia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $69,820 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,880 |
| Cook | $35,490 |
| Cook | $34,800 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $31,050 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 |
| Dishwasher | $28,180 |
| Cook | $27,540 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,170 |
| Host and Hostess | $23,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Columbia?
The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $15.10 ($31,400 a year).
Do food servers make more in Columbia than the national average?
No: $31,400 against $35,360 nationally, 11% less.
How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $31,740, so Columbia pays 1% less.
Where does Columbia rank for food server pay?
221 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,510 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.