Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Columbia
In Columbia (SC), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $16.73 an hour ($34,800 a year). About 1,410 people work in this job there.
That is 7% lower than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is about the same as the South Carolina median ($34,960).
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Columbia (SC)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $11.28 | $23,460 |
| 25% of workers | $13.86 | $28,830 |
| Half of workers (median) | $16.73 | $34,800 |
| 75% of workers | $18.17 | $37,790 |
| 90% of workers | $20.54 | $42,720 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in South Carolina metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $38,920 | 280 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $36,990 | 940 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $36,130 | 360 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $35,270 | 1,760 |
| Columbia (this page) | $34,800 | 1,410 |
| Spartanburg | $34,080 | 440 |
| Florence | $33,540 | 390 |
| Sumter | $28,880 | 150 |
South Carolina unemployment rate: 4.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Columbia (SC)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,170 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,490 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,880 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,260 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,880 |
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.