Cooks, Restaurant salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $36,710 a year ($17.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,630 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $35,740. There are 15 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,580 | $12.78 |
| 25th percentile | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| Median | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| 75th percentile | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Average (mean) | $37,260 | $17.92 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,059.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,529.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,411.92 |
| Weekly | $705.96 |
| Hourly | $17.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,710 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,030 | 14,430 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,820 | 1,730 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,680 | 4,360 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $35,500 | 1,180 |
| Columbia, SC | $35,490 | 3,520 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,190 | 3,420 |
| Florence, SC | $34,550 | 730 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,990 | 2,200 |
| Sumter, SC | $31,370 | 290 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,020 | $15.40 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $19,340 | $9.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| Bartender | $19,630 | $9.44 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,210 | $35.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,230 | $10.69 |
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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $36,710 a year, or $17.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $46,630 a year. The top 25% earn $44,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,580 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,070 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 6,040 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.