Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Charleston, SC

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

Median annual salary $36,630 -0.5% vs national
Median hourly $17.61
10th percentile $27,680
90th percentile $45,870
Employed locally 5,930
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Charleston, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,680
    25th
    $31,790
    50th (median)
    $36,630
    75th
    $37,930
    90th
    $45,870

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 55% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,230
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $38,290
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $37,090
    Wisconsin $36,940
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $36,710
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,170

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,450
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,010
    Bartenders $18,710
    Food Preparation Workers $33,730
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $27,760

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Charleston, SC is $17.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.42 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Charleston, SC is 0.5% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Charleston?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,680 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,790.