SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Greenville
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Greenville, SC is $28,210 a year, trailing the national median of $30,890 by 8.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Greenville, SC is $28,210 a year, trailing the national median of $30,890 by 8.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $23,350 and $33,870. The lowest tenth earn under $22,740, while the highest tenth earn more than $37,440.
The area has 1,970 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.10 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Charleston records the highest median at $32,380. Of the 507 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 493rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,740 | −26.4% |
| 25th | $23,350 | −24.4% |
| Median (50th) | $28,210 | −8.7% |
| 75th | $33,870 | +9.6% |
| 90th | $37,440 | +21.2% |
| Mean | $28,920 | −6.4% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $32,380 | 1,090 | |
| 2 | Hilton Head Island | $28,290 | 300 | |
| 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 Greenville run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $28,210 goes as far as $30,107 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,107US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,210 a year, 8.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,740 to $37,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,970 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $32,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Greenville, SC?
The median annual wage is $28,210, or $13.56 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 Greenville, SC is 8.7% lower. 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 Greenville, SC earns more than $37,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,740 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 $32,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,970 jobs in this occupation in Greenville, 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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