SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — South Carolina
South Carolina · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in South Carolina is $22,230 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,840 — a gap of 38.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in South Carolina is $22,230 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,840 — a gap of 38.0%. Half of workers earn between $20,780 and $27,270. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $17,600 and the ninetieth at $34,110.
Employment stands at 850, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. South Carolina ranks number 42nd out of 44 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Charleston records the highest median at $22,230. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 711th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,600 | −50.9% |
| 25th | $20,780 | −42.0% |
| Median (50th) | $22,230 | −38.0% |
| 75th | $27,270 | −23.9% |
| 90th | $34,110 | −4.8% |
| Mean | $25,100 | −30.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $22,230 | 300 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $21,370 | 120 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $20,920 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $22,230 goes as far as $23,725 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 33.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$23,725US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,230 a year, 38.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,600 to $34,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 850 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 42nd of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $22,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $22,230, or $10.69 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 $35,840, so pay in South Carolina is 38.0% 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 South Carolina earns more than $34,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,600 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 $22,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 850 jobs in this occupation in South Carolina. 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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