Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $35,510 -2.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.07
10th percentile $25,590
90th percentile $44,560
Employed locally 1,030
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Charleston, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,590
    25th
    $29,790
    50th (median)
    $35,510
    75th
    $38,170
    90th
    $44,560

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 57% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $41,010
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $38,550
    Wisconsin $37,840
    Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $37,840
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $37,160

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,450
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,890
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,010
    Bartenders $18,710
    Food Preparation Workers $33,730

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Charleston, SC is $17.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.80 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Charleston, SC is 2.6% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Charleston?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $25,590 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,790.