Chef and Head Cook Salary in South Carolina
Median annual pay in South Carolina
$71,860
$34.55/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in South Carolina
$76,651
Regional Price Parity: 93.749 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($62,470): +$9,390 (+15.0%)
South Carolina ranks 8th of 51 states by median pay, and 4th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| 25th percentile | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Median | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| 75th percentile | $79,050 | $38.01 |
| 90th percentile | $88,880 | $42.73 |
Employment
- Employment in South Carolina
- 2,650
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in South Carolina
- $71,860
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $62,470
- Difference
- +$9,390 (+15.0%)
Cost of living
$71,860 ÷ 93.749 × 100 = $76,651
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | ||
| 6th | $74,280 | $68,269 13th |
| Wyoming | ||
| 7th | $73,170 | $78,940 2nd |
| South Carolina This page | ||
| 8th | $71,860 | $76,651 4th |
| New York | ||
| 9th | $70,670 | $65,483 19th |
| Tennessee | ||
| 10th | $69,810 | $75,988 5th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Baker salary in the U.S.
$37,160/year U.S.
- Food Service Manager salary in the U.S.
$69,390/year U.S.
- Waiter and Waitress salary in the U.S.
$35,230/year U.S.
- Dietetic Technician salary in the U.S.
$37,640/year U.S.
- Food Preparation Worker salary in the U.S.
$35,320/year U.S.
- Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in the U.S.
$31,200/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +6.6%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Chef and Head Cook salary in nearby places
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Georgia
$66,230/year Georgia
- Chef and Head Cook salary in North Carolina
$61,130/year North Carolina
- Chef and Head Cook salary in the U.S.
$62,470/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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