SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Spartanburg
Spartanburg, SC · 7 metro areas compared
In Spartanburg, SC the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks is $72,670 a year, which is 16.3% higher than the national figure of $62,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Spartanburg, SC the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks is $72,670 a year, which is 16.3% higher than the national figure of $62,470. Half of workers earn between $61,080 and $77,900. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $49,680 and the ninetieth at $83,370.
The area has 140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. 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 93rd of 353 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,680 | −20.5% |
| 25th | $61,080 | −2.2% |
| Median (50th) | $72,670 | +16.3% |
| 75th | $77,900 | +24.7% |
| 90th | $83,370 | +33.5% |
| Mean | $69,560 | +11.3% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $74,210 | 770 | |
| 2 | Hilton Head Island | $73,690 | 240 | |
| 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 Spartanburg run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $72,670 goes as far as $77,556 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$72,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,556US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $72,670 a year, 16.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,680 to $83,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 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 Spartanburg, SC?
The median annual wage is $72,670, or $34.94 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 Spartanburg, SC is 16.3% 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 Spartanburg, SC earns more than $83,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,680 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 140 jobs in this occupation in Spartanburg, 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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