Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $30,850 -10.5% vs national
Median hourly $14.83
10th percentile $19,040
90th percentile $39,090
Employed locally 930
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $19,040
    25th
    $29,520
    50th (median)
    $30,850
    75th
    $36,590
    90th
    $39,090

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 37% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 63% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,190
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $34,800
    Wisconsin $34,490
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $34,150
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $33,390

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,450
    Waiters and Waitresses$18,890
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,010
    Bartenders$18,710
    Food Preparation Workers$33,730

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Charleston, SC is $14.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.29 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Charleston, SC is 10.5% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Charleston?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $19,040 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,520.