Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other Salary in Charleston, SC

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

Median annual salary $22,210 -36.2% vs national
Median hourly $10.68
10th percentile $17,970
90th percentile $40,080
National median $34,830

Compare Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Charleston, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,970
    25th
    $21,100
    50th (median)
    $22,210
    75th
    $25,870
    90th
    $40,080

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary vs area income 27% Median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary is 73% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $77,840
    Hawaii $62,110
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $58,030
    Salem, OR $49,900
    Bend, OR $45,810
    Virgin Islands $43,410

    Nearby metros — Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,960
    Wisconsin $34,850
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $28,210
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $24,040
    Spartanburg, SC $23,890
    Columbia, SC $22,260

    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 Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Charleston, SC is $10.68, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.62 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salaries?

    The median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in Charleston, SC is 36.2% below the national median of $34,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Charleston?

    Entry-level Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $17,970 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $21,100.