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Columbia, SC metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbia, SC?

In the Columbia, SC metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $30,260 a year ($14.55 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 2,030 of these jobs there. That is 35% below the $46,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $22,810 and $38,700; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $26,190 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Columbia, SC at a glance

Median salary

$30,260$14.55 per hour · $2,522 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$22,810$10.97/hr
25th percentile$27,620$13.28/hr
75th percentile$35,920$17.27/hr
90th percentile$38,700$18.61/hr
Jobs in this metro2,030Location quotient 0.90 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here35% belowAll-jobs median $46,430
Against South Carolina6% belowStatewide median $32,180
Against the U.S.14% belowNational median $35,320

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $30,000 a year leaves after tax in South CarolinaFederal tax, FICA and South Carolina withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$15 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $30,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $30,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation South Carolina publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about South Carolina.

Food preparation worker salary in Columbia, SC after taxes

$30,260
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,260
Net 87%
Fed 5%
SC 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,190After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,183Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,007Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,451 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$304 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,315 / yr
Customize deductions in full South Carolina calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Columbia, SC, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Columbia, SC metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (SC)
10th percentile$10.97/hr$1,901$22,810$20,239
25th percentile$13.28/hr$2,302$27,620$24,104
MedianMedian$14.55/hr$2,522$30,260$26,190
75th percentile$17.27/hr$2,993$35,920$30,625
90th percentile$18.61/hr$3,225$38,700$32,804

Is $30,260 a good salary in Columbia, SC?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$68,359Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)93.76.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household44.3%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other South Carolina metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Columbia, SC. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Columbia, SC: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Columbia, SC?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Columbia, SC metro area was $30,260 in May 2025, about $2,522 a month or $14.55 an hour. Statewide, the South Carolina median for this job is $32,180, so the metro pays 6% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Columbia, SC?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Columbia, SC was $14.55 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.97 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.61.

How many food preparation workers work in Columbia, SC?

BLS estimated 2,030 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 5.2 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.90 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Columbia, SC?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Columbia, SC run from $22,810 at the 10th percentile to $27,620 at the 25th, $35,920 at the 75th, and $38,700 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Columbia, SC?

On a median gross salary of $30,260, an estimated $26,190 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,007 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,070 (an effective rate of 13.4%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Columbia, SC?

On the median annual salary of $30,260, gross monthly income is $2,522. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,183 per month (or $1,007 every two weeks).

Is $30,260 a good salary in Columbia, SC?

At $30,260, the median salary for food preparation workers is 44.3% of the Columbia, SC median household income ($68,359). It is 35% below the $46,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 93.7, so prices here run 6.3% below the U.S. average.