Bartenders Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $17,820 -46.9% vs national
Median hourly $8.57
10th percentile $15,080
90th percentile $57,120
Employed locally 1,120
National median $33,530

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Type a city below to see how Columbia, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Bartenders
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Columbia, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $15,080
    25th
    $15,080
    50th (median)
    $17,820
    75th
    $31,410
    90th
    $57,120

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 27% Median Bartenders salary is 73% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Bartenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $80,040
    Urban Honolulu, HI $70,300
    Hawaii $68,820
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $65,480
    New York $60,750
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $59,390

    Nearby metros — Bartenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $47,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,430
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $36,170
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $35,990
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $27,820
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $22,940

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,270
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,700
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,850
    Cooks, Fast Food $22,560
    Food Preparation Workers $30,290

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Columbia, SC is $8.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.00 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Columbia, SC is 46.9% below the national median of $33,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Bartenders in Columbia?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $15,080 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $15,080.