Baker Salary in Columbia, SC
Bakers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $33,800 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,467 take-home, or $2,372 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,876
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$490
- South Carolina income tax$871
- Take-home pay$28,467
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Baker pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,820 | $11.45 | $20,871 | $1,739 |
| 25th percentile | $28,620 | $13.76 | $24,616 | $2,051 |
| Median (50th) | $33,800 | $16.25 | $28,467 | $2,372 |
| 75th percentile | $37,760 | $18.15 | $31,412 | $2,618 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,920 | $20.63 | $35,248 | $2,937 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,800 buys in Columbia, SC
Prices in Columbia, SC are 6.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median baker's $28,467 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,394 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baker jobs are less concentrated in Columbia, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #67 of 98 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga, TN | $40,880 | $35,027 | $38,296 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $42,770 | $36,546 | $36,420 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,470 | $35,064 | $34,756 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $37,680 | $31,676 | $34,543 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $34,288 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $47,150 | $37,986 | $34,234 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,890 | $34,232 | $34,158 |
| 67 | Columbia, SC | $33,800 | $28,467 | $30,394 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 98 metros →
Baker salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Charleston, SC — $39,070
- Greenville, SC — $34,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Columbia, SC?
The median baker salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $33,800 a year, or about $16.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,620 and $37,760.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $33,800 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $28,467 a year ($2,372 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $871 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,394 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #67 of 98 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker afford rent in Columbia, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, SC is $1,139 a month ($1,255 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median baker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,420
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $55,070
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $51,010
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,730
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $48,310
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $43,790
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,230
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $41,340
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $39,560
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — $35,660
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $29,830