Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Hilton Head Island, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

Median annual salary $65,780 +7.9% vs national
Median hourly $31.63
10th percentile $48,360
90th percentile $104,710
Employed locally 210
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Hilton Head Island, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Hilton Head Island, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,360
    25th
    $55,760
    50th (median)
    $65,780
    75th
    $78,740
    90th
    $104,710

    Hilton Head Island economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,015 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 81% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 19% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Tuscaloosa, AL $69,560
    Sumter, SC $65,020
    Charleston-North Charleston, SC $63,130
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $63,010
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $60,740

    Related occupations in Hilton Head Island, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,700
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,850
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,360
    Food Preparation Workers $33,780
    Bartenders $18,830

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Hilton Head Island?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Hilton Head Island, SC is $31.63, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.14 or more per hour.

    Is Hilton Head Island above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Hilton Head Island, SC is 7.9% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Hilton Head Island?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $48,360 per year in Hilton Head Island, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $55,760.