Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in South Carolina make a median of $71,860 a year, or about $34.55 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $77,128 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 26.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in South Carolina?
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for chefs and head cooks, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $74K | +3% | 770 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $74K | +3% | 240 |
| Spartanburg | $73K | +1% | 140 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $72K | -0% | 250 |
| Columbia | $70K | -3% | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $70K | -3% | 360 |
| Florence | $68K | -6% | 70 |
| Sumter | $65K | -10% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,858/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $72K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
South Carolina pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in South Carolina?
The median is $71,860 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,640, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $88,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,664/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 27.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $77,128 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.