Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Columbia, SC

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

Median annual salary $22,560 -25.2% vs national
Median hourly $10.85
10th percentile $21,300
90th percentile $30,010
Employed locally 2,030
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
in
Columbia, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,300
    25th
    $22,290
    50th (median)
    $22,560
    75th
    $24,660
    90th
    $30,010

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 34% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 66% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $31,200
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $28,750
    Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $28,750
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $28,490
    Wisconsin $28,400

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,270
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,700
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,850
    Food Preparation Workers $30,290
    Dishwashers $27,660

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Columbia, SC is $10.85, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.29 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbia, SC is 25.2% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Columbia?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $21,300 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,290.