SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Charleston
Charleston-North Charleston, SC · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Charleston, SC comes to $74,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,470 by 18.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Charleston, SC comes to $74,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,470 by 18.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $60,290 and $80,430. The lowest tenth earn under $47,480, while the highest tenth earn more than $87,600.
Employment stands at 770, or 2.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Hilton Head Island leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $73,690. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 167th of 513 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,480 | −24.0% |
| 25th | $60,290 | −3.5% |
| Median (50th) | $74,210 | +18.8% |
| 75th | $80,430 | +28.7% |
| 90th | $87,600 | +40.2% |
| Mean | $71,800 | +14.9% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton Head Island | $73,690 | 240 | |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $72,670 | 140 | |
| 3 | Myrtle Beach | $71,700 | 250 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $69,820 | 280 | |
| 5 | Greenville | $69,680 | 360 | |
| 6 | Florence | $67,550 | 70 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $65,020 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $74,210 goes as far as $79,200 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 26.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,200US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,210 a year, 18.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,480 to $87,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 770 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hilton Head Island, at $73,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Charleston, SC?
The median annual wage is $74,210, or $35.68 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Charleston, SC is 18.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Charleston, SC earns more than $87,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Hilton Head Island, at $73,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 770 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, SC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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