Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in South Carolina
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in South Carolina earn a median of $31,740 a year ($15.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $19,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,480 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,360. South Carolina ranks 35th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $31,270, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,100 | $9.18 |
| 25th percentile | $28,460 | $13.68 |
| Median | $31,740 | $15.26 |
| 75th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Average (mean) | $31,270 | $15.04 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,645 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,322.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,220.77 |
| Weekly | $610.38 |
| Hourly | $15.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $31,740 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.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $34,480 | 220 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $33,970 | 890 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,550 | 2,260 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $33,390 | 130 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $31,670 | 450 |
| Columbia, SC | $31,400 | 380 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $30,590 | 250 |
| Florence, SC | $29,470 | 90 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,280 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,370 | $8.83 |
| Bartender | $19,370 | $9.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,420 | $13.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Dishwasher | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,830 | $12.90 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,230 | $10.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in South Carolina?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in South Carolina is $31,740 a year, or $15.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $19,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in South Carolina earn at least $37,480 a year. The top 25% earn $35,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $19,100 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,460 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in South Carolina?
About 2,990 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.