Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Columbia, SC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $27,170 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,511 take-home, or $1,959 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,107
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,685
- Medicare (1.45%)$394
- South Carolina income tax$473
- Take-home pay$23,511
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,440 | $10.79 | $19,776 | $1,648 |
| 25th percentile | $23,100 | $11.11 | $20,300 | $1,692 |
| Median (50th) | $27,170 | $13.06 | $23,511 | $1,959 |
| 75th percentile | $29,220 | $14.05 | $25,062 | $2,089 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,360 | $16.52 | $28,884 | $2,407 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,170 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 fast food and counter worker's $23,511 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,102 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are about as common in Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #190 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 190 | Columbia, SC | $27,170 | $23,511 | $25,102 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $27,390
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $29,550
- Greenville, SC — $27,850
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $27,600
- Florence, SC — $24,590
- Charleston, SC — $28,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Columbia, SC?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $27,170 a year, or about $13.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,100 and $29,220.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $27,170 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $23,511 a year ($1,959 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $473 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,102 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #190 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker 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) — 58% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,880
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,490
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,810