Waiter and Waitress Salary in Columbia, SC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $17,810 a year — 49% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $16,102 take-home, or $1,342 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$171
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,104
- Medicare (1.45%)$258
- South Carolina income tax$175
- Take-home pay$16,102
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,834 | $1,153 |
| 25th percentile | $16,390 | $7.88 | $14,975 | $1,248 |
| Median (50th) | $17,810 | $8.56 | $16,102 | $1,342 |
| 75th percentile | $22,050 | $10.60 | $19,466 | $1,622 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,540 | $20.93 | $35,709 | $2,976 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $17,810 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 waiter and waitress's $16,102 take-home pay has the buying power of $17,192 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 Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #140 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 140 | Columbia, SC | $17,810 | $16,102 | $17,192 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $19,950
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $19,830
- Charleston, SC — $19,340
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $17,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Columbia, SC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $17,810 a year, or about $8.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,390 and $22,050.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $17,810 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $16,102 a year ($1,342 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $175 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 49% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $17,192 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #140 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 85% of a median waiter and waitress’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
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,170