Waiter and Waitress Salary in Sumter, SC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Sumter, SC metro area earn a median $17,440 a year — 50% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $15,808 take-home, or $1,317 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Sumter, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$134
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,081
- Medicare (1.45%)$253
- South Carolina income tax$164
- Take-home pay$15,808
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Sumter, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,834 | $1,153 |
| 25th percentile | $16,540 | $7.95 | $15,094 | $1,258 |
| Median (50th) | $17,440 | $8.38 | $15,808 | $1,317 |
| 75th percentile | $29,120 | $14.00 | $24,988 | $2,082 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,030 | $24.53 | $41,278 | $3,440 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $17,440 buys in Sumter, SC
Prices in Sumter, SC are 12.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 39% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $15,808 take-home pay has the buying power of $17,960 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Sumter, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Sumter, SC ranks #358 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 358 | Sumter, SC | $17,440 | $15,808 | $17,960 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $19,950
- Florence, SC — $17,460
- Spartanburg, SC — $18,370
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $19,830
- Columbia, SC — $17,810
- Charleston, SC — $19,340
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $17,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Sumter, SC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Sumter, SC metro area is $17,440 a year, or about $8.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,540 and $29,120.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Sumter, SC?
On the median $17,440 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $15,808 a year ($1,317 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $164 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Sumter, SC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 50% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 12.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $17,960 would in a typical U.S. city. Sumter, SC ranks #358 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Sumter, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sumter, SC is $972 a month ($1,276 for two bedrooms) — 74% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sumter, SC
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,510