SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Hilton Head Island, SC is $36,920 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Hilton Head Island, SC is $36,920 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $23,720 at the tenth percentile to more than $43,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,740 to $38,120.
The area has 960 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 11.8 of every thousand jobs. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 228th of 270 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,720 | −32.8% |
| 25th | $29,740 | −15.8% |
| Median (50th) | $36,920 | +4.5% |
| 75th | $38,120 | +7.9% |
| 90th | $43,600 | +23.4% |
| Mean | $34,320 | −2.8% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $36,220 | 2,650 | |
| 2 | Myrtle Beach | $33,330 | 1,320 | |
| 3 | Greenville | $30,430 | 2,780 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $30,260 | 2,030 | |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $29,460 | 1,130 | |
| 6 | Florence | $29,180 | 530 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $28,230 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hilton Head Island run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $36,920 goes as far as $39,402 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,402US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,920 a year, 4.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,720 to $43,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 960 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $36,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Hilton Head Island, SC?
The median annual wage is $36,920, or $17.75 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 $35,320, so pay in Hilton Head Island, SC is 4.5% 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 Hilton Head Island, SC earns more than $43,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,720 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 $36,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 960 jobs in this occupation in Hilton Head Island, 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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