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Cooks, Fast Food Salary in South Carolina

Cooks, Fast Foods in South Carolina make a median of $23,930 a year, or about $11.51 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $33K for experienced workers.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$24K
Median annual
$11.51/hr
Hourly rate
$21K
Entry level (10th %)
$33K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $24K get you in South Carolina?

Estimated monthly take-home$1,753/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,263/mo
Rent as % of take-home72% (above 30% guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$25,684/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$490/mo

About cooks, fast foods

U.S. employed: 10,120
Category: Food Service

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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina

Bar chart showing Cooks, Fast Food salary percentiles in South Carolina: 10th percentile $20,560, 25th percentile $22,250, median $23,930, 75th percentile $28,980, 90th percentile $33,390. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$21K25th$22KMedian$24K75th$29K90th$33K
Bar chart showing Cooks, Fast Food salary percentiles in South Carolina: 10th percentile $20,560, 25th percentile $22,250, median $23,930, 75th percentile $28,980, 90th percentile $33,390. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $24K. Top earners bring in $33K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.

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Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in South Carolina

8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Greenville-Anderson-Greer$28K+19%2,010
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal$26K+10%310
Spartanburg$26K+9%740
Charleston-North Charleston$26K+7%1,000
Sumter$23K-2%220
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach$23K-3%1,040
Columbia$23K-6%2,030
Florence$22K-6%430

Compare to other states

Track cooks, fast food salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, fast foods make in South Carolina?

The median is $23,930 a year, that works out to about $12 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,560, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $33,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $24K enough to live in South Carolina?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,753/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 72% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.

How far does a cooks, fast food salary go in South Carolina?

South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, fast food salary is worth about $25,684 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do cooks, fast foods 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.

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