Cooks, Restaurant Salary in South Carolina
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for cooks, restaurant in South Carolina was $35,740 -4.4% vs national
South Carolina vs United States
| South Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $35,740 | $37,390 |
| Median hourly | $17.18 | $17.98 |
| Employment | 25,890 | 1,409,890 |
| Location quotient | 1.24 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (South Carolina) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
How to interpret these figures
Employment density in South Carolina is 1.24x the national average — a above-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $26,200, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $45,680 — a 1.7x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cooks, restaurant salary in South Carolina?
The median annual wage in South Carolina is $35,740 ($17.18 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for cooks, restaurant?
The South Carolina median of $35,740 is 4.4% lower than the U.S. median of $37,390.
How many cooks, restaurant work in South Carolina?
Approximately 25,890 are employed in South Carolina, per BLS OES.