Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Columbia, SC

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

Median annual salary $18,270 -45.9% vs national
Median hourly $8.78
10th percentile $15,080
90th percentile $45,250
Employed locally 5,920
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $15,080
    25th
    $16,050
    50th (median)
    $18,270
    75th
    $27,780
    90th
    $45,250

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 28% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 72% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,110
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $37,360
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $35,680
    Wisconsin $29,050
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $28,990
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $28,790

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,310
    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
    Dishwashers $27,660

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Columbia, SC is $8.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.94 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Columbia, SC is 45.9% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Columbia?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $15,080 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $16,050.