Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Sumter, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Sumter, SC

Median annual salary $65,020 +6.6% vs national
Median hourly $31.26
10th percentile $41,600
90th percentile $77,590
Employed locally 30
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Sumter, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,600
    25th
    $51,050
    50th (median)
    $65,020
    75th
    $72,520
    90th
    $77,590

    Sumter economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $55,990 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 116% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 16% above 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
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $65,780
    Charleston-North Charleston, SC $63,130
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $63,010
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $60,740

    Related occupations in Sumter, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,890
    Waiters and Waitresses$17,120
    Cooks, Restaurant$30,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,200
    Cooks, Fast Food$23,360
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$26,420

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Sumter, SC is $31.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.30 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Sumter, SC is 6.6% 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 Sumter?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $41,600 per year in Sumter, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,050.