Chefs and Head Cooks pay in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $34.55 an hour ($71,860 a year). About 2,650 people work in this job there.
That is 15% higher than the U.S. median ($62,470). South Carolina ranks 8th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in South Carolina
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $22.90 | $47,640 |
| 25% of workers | $28.90 | $60,120 |
| Half of workers (median) | $34.55 | $71,860 |
| 75% of workers | $38.01 | $79,050 |
| 90% of workers | $42.73 | $88,880 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in South Carolina metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $74,210 | 770 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $73,690 | 240 |
| Spartanburg | $72,670 | 140 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $71,700 | 250 |
| Columbia | $69,820 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $69,680 | 360 |
| Florence | $67,550 | 70 |
| Sumter | $65,020 | 30 |
South Carolina unemployment rate: 4.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,370 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,740 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,960 |
| Food Service Managers | $66,190 |
| Bakers | $35,460 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,640 |
| Food Batchmakers | $37,070 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.