SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Southern South Carolina
Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Southern South Carolina, SC is $71,610 per year, 14.6% above the national median of $62,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Southern South Carolina, SC is $71,610 per year, 14.6% above the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $53,720 at the tenth percentile to more than $89,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $69,790 to $79,460.
Employment stands at 60, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $74,210. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 55th of 217 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,720 | −14.0% |
| 25th | $69,790 | +11.7% |
| Median (50th) | $71,610 | +14.6% |
| 75th | $79,460 | +27.2% |
| 90th | $89,110 | +42.6% |
| Mean | $71,830 | +15.0% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $74,210 | 770 | |
| 2 | Hilton Head Island | $73,690 | 240 | |
| 3 | Spartanburg | $72,670 | 140 | |
| 4 | Myrtle Beach | $71,700 | 250 | |
| 5 | Columbia | $69,820 | 280 | |
| 6 | Greenville | $69,680 | 360 | |
| 7 | Florence | $67,550 | 70 | |
| 8 | Sumter | $65,020 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $71,610 goes as far as $76,425 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$71,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,425US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $71,610 a year, 14.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,720 to $89,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $74,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Southern South Carolina, SC?
The median annual wage is $71,610, or $34.43 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 Southern South Carolina, SC is 14.6% 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 Southern South Carolina, SC earns more than $89,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,720 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 Charleston, at $74,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Southern South Carolina, 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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