SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Northwestern South Carolina
Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Northwestern South Carolina, SC is $25,470 a year, trailing the national median of $30,890 by 17.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Northwestern South Carolina, SC is $25,470 a year, trailing the national median of $30,890 by 17.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $22,710 and $29,610. The lowest tenth earn under $21,570, while the highest tenth earn more than $36,600.
The area has 370 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.97 — 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 313 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 306th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,570 | −30.2% |
| 25th | $22,710 | −26.5% |
| Median (50th) | $25,470 | −17.5% |
| 75th | $29,610 | −4.1% |
| 90th | $36,600 | +18.5% |
| Mean | $26,980 | −12.7% |
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 | Greenville | $28,210 | 1,970 | |
| 4 | Spartanburg | $28,030 | 630 | |
| 5 | Myrtle Beach | $27,100 | 840 | |
| 6 | Sumter | $23,980 | 280 | |
| 7 | Florence | $23,310 | 390 | |
| 8 | Columbia | $22,880 | 1,500 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northwestern South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $25,470 goes as far as $27,182 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$25,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$27,182US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $25,470 a year, 17.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,570 to $36,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 370 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 Northwestern South Carolina, SC?
The median annual wage is $25,470, or $12.25 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 Northwestern South Carolina, SC is 17.5% 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 Northwestern South Carolina, SC earns more than $36,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,570 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 370 jobs in this occupation in Northwestern 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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