Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, cooks in the restaurant industry earn a median annual salary of $35,730 and a median hourly wage of $17.18. When compared to the national median for this occupation, which stands at $36,830, local cooks in Greenville make slightly less. Additionally, when assessing these earnings relative to local household income data, it is evident that the area median household income is $69,016. This comparison highlights that a typical cook's salary constitutes approximately 51.8% of the average local household income, suggesting that individual earnings for this occupation are significantly lower than the broader community standard.

For entry-level cooks in Greenville, SC, annual salaries start at around $23,830, which represents the 10th percentile wage bracket. As these individuals gain experience and advance within their roles, they can expect to see increases in pay, with those in the 25th percentile earning approximately $29,400 annually. Experienced cooks, positioned at or near the 75th percentile, typically earn about $37,170 per year, while top earners at the 90th percentile may receive salaries up to $43,940. The disparity between entry-level and experienced wages is driven by factors such as increased skill proficiency, length of service, specialization in certain types of cuisine or cooking techniques, and opportunities for advancement within larger restaurant establishments.