Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $74,210 a year ($35.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,600 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $71,860. There are 2.0 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $71,800, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| 25th percentile | $60,290 | $28.99 |
| Median | $74,210 | $35.68 |
| 75th percentile | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,600 | $42.11 |
| Average (mean) | $71,800 | $34.52 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,184.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,092.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,854.23 |
| Weekly | $1,427.12 |
| Hourly | $35.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $74,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $73,690 | 240 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $72,670 | 140 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $71,700 | 250 |
| Columbia, SC | $69,820 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $69,680 | 360 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $68,070 | 230 |
| Florence, SC | $67,550 | 70 |
| Sumter, SC | $65,020 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | 1,480 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $19,340 | $9.30 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Bartender | $19,630 | $9.44 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Dishwasher | $31,800 | $15.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,230 | $10.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,020 | $15.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $74,210 a year, or $35.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $87,600 a year. The top 25% earn $80,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,480 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $60,290 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 770 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.