SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Charleston
Charleston-North Charleston, SC · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $32,380 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $30,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $32,380 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $30,890. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $24,720 and $35,250. The lowest tenth earn under $21,770, while the highest tenth earn more than $38,960.
The area has 1,090 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.67 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Hilton Head Island records the highest median at $28,290. Of the 513 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 494th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,770 | −29.5% |
| 25th | $24,720 | −20.0% |
| Median (50th) | $32,380 | +4.8% |
| 75th | $35,250 | +14.1% |
| 90th | $38,960 | +26.1% |
| Mean | $31,410 | +1.7% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton Head Island | $28,290 | 300 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $28,210 | 1,970 | |
| 3 | Spartanburg | $28,030 | 630 | |
| 4 | Myrtle Beach | $27,100 | 840 | |
| 5 | Sumter | $23,980 | 280 | |
| 6 | Florence | $23,310 | 390 | |
| 7 | Columbia | $22,880 | 1,500 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $32,380 goes as far as $34,557 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$32,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,557US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $32,380 a year, 4.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,770 to $38,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,090 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hilton Head Island, at $28,290.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Charleston, SC?
The median annual wage is $32,380, or $15.57 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 $30,890, so pay in Charleston, SC is 4.8% 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 $38,960 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,770 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 $28,290 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,090 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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