Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in South Carolina
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in South Carolina earn a median of $34,960 a year ($16.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,680 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,450. South Carolina ranks 42nd of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 3.4 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,270, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,890 | $10.52 |
| 25th percentile | $29,130 | $14.01 |
| Median | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,680 | $20.52 |
| Average (mean) | $33,270 | $15.99 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,913.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,456.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,344.62 |
| Weekly | $672.31 |
| Hourly | $16.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,960 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.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $38,920 | 280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,690 | 3,090 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,990 | 940 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $36,130 | 360 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,270 | 1,760 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $34,970 | 430 |
| Columbia, SC | $34,800 | 1,410 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $34,080 | 440 |
| Florence, SC | $33,540 | 390 |
| Sumter, SC | $28,880 | 150 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,420 | $13.18 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,370 | $8.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Bartender | $19,370 | $9.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| Dishwasher | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,830 | $12.90 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,740 | $15.26 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,230 | $10.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in South Carolina?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in South Carolina is $34,960 a year, or $16.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in South Carolina earn at least $42,680 a year. The top 25% earn $37,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $29,130 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in South Carolina?
About 7,850 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.