Cooks, Short Order salary in South Carolina
Cooks, Short Order in South Carolina earn a median of $29,640 a year ($14.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 900 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,480 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,880. South Carolina ranks 38th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.39 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $29,340, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| 25th percentile | $25,280 | $12.16 |
| Median | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| 75th percentile | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Average (mean) | $29,340 | $14.10 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,470 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,235 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,140 |
| Weekly | $570 |
| Hourly | $14.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,640 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, Short Order salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,600 | 530 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $32,020 | n/a |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,690 | 110 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,200 | 70 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $28,490 | 120 |
| Columbia, SC | $27,540 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
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, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in South Carolina?
The median salary for cooks, short order in South Carolina is $29,640 a year, or $14.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in South Carolina earn at least $34,480 a year. The top 25% earn $33,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,670 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $25,280 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in South Carolina?
About 900 cooks, short order are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.