Food Preparation Worker Salary in Columbia, SC
Food Preparation Workers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $30,260 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,835 take-home, or $2,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,451
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,876
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- South Carolina income tax$659
- Take-home pay$25,835
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,810 | $10.97 | $20,069 | $1,672 |
| 25th percentile | $27,620 | $13.28 | $23,855 | $1,988 |
| Median (50th) | $30,260 | $14.55 | $25,835 | $2,153 |
| 75th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 | $30,044 | $2,504 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,700 | $18.61 | $32,111 | $2,676 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,260 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 food preparation worker's $25,835 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,584 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #196 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 196 | Columbia, SC | $30,260 | $25,835 | $27,584 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $36,920
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $33,330
- Charleston, SC — $36,220
- Florence, SC — $29,180
- Greenville, SC — $30,430
- Spartanburg, SC — $29,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbia, SC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $30,260 a year, or about $14.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,620 and $35,920.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $30,260 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $25,835 a year ($2,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $659 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,584 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #196 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation 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) — 53% of a median food preparation 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
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $34,800
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,050
- Dishwasher — $28,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,170
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $23,070
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,880
- Bartender — $19,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,810