Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Columbia, SC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $69,820 a year ($33.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,710 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $71,860. There are 0.71 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $68,700, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| 25th percentile | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| Median | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| 75th percentile | $79,250 | $38.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,710 | $41.21 |
| Average (mean) | $68,700 | $33.03 |
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 | $5,818.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,909.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,685.38 |
| Weekly | $1,342.69 |
| Hourly | $33.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $69,820 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $74,210 | 770 |
| 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 |
| 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 Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,810 | $8.56 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Dishwasher | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Bartender | $19,230 | $9.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,070 | $11.09 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,920 | $10.06 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Columbia, SC metro area is $69,820 a year, or $33.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $85,710 a year. The top 25% earn $79,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,280 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $55,120 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Columbia, SC?
About 280 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.