Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Columbia, SC

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

Median annual salary $34,070 -6.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.38
10th percentile $22,800
90th percentile $41,550
Employed locally 1,160
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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

    10th
    $22,800
    25th
    $29,540
    50th (median)
    $34,070
    75th
    $40,690
    90th
    $41,550

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 52% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 48% 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 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
    Cooks, Fast Food $22,560
    Food Preparation Workers $30,290

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Columbia, SC is $16.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.54 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Columbia, SC is 6.5% 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $22,800 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,540.