Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Columbia, SC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $27,170 a year ($13.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,360 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 1% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $27,520. There are 30 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $27,080, close to the median.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,440 | $10.79 |
| 25th percentile | $23,100 | $11.11 |
| Median | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| 75th percentile | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Average (mean) | $27,080 | $13.02 |
Half of fast food and counter workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,264.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,132.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,045 |
| Weekly | $522.50 |
| Hourly | $13.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $29,550 | 2,440 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28,880 | 27,050 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $28,500 | 10,850 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $27,850 | 12,280 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $27,600 | 5,200 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $27,390 | 4,870 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,620 | 8,710 |
| Florence, SC | $24,590 | 2,880 |
| Sumter, SC | $24,510 | 1,060 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,810 | $8.56 |
| Bartender | $19,230 | $9.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Dishwasher | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,070 | $11.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,920 | $10.06 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter workers make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $27,170 a year, or $13.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $34,360 a year. The top 25% earn $29,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,440 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $23,100 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Columbia, SC?
About 11,640 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.