Food Preparation Workers Salary in Sumter, SC

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

Median annual salary $27,600 -19.3% vs national
Median hourly $13.27
10th percentile $20,020
90th percentile $34,920
Employed locally 140
National median $34,220

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Food Preparation Workers
in
Sumter, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,020
    25th
    $22,660
    50th (median)
    $27,600
    75th
    $30,740
    90th
    $34,920

    Sumter economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $55,990 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation Workers salary vs area income 49% Median Food Preparation Workers salary is 51% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Preparation Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,120
    Napa, CA $43,260
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $42,830
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $41,980
    Boulder, CO $41,490
    Greeley, CO $41,340

    Nearby metros — Food Preparation Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $39,660
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $35,310
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $34,120
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $33,780
    Charleston-North Charleston, SC $33,730
    Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $33,650

    Related occupations in Sumter, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $22,890
    Waiters and Waitresses $17,120
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,200
    Cooks, Fast Food $23,360
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $26,420

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Preparation Workers make per hour in Sumter?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation Workers in Sumter, SC is $13.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.09 or more per hour.

    Is Sumter above or below average for Food Preparation Workers salaries?

    The median Food Preparation Workers salary in Sumter, SC is 19.3% below the national median of $34,220. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Preparation Workers in Sumter?

    Entry-level Food Preparation Workers (10th percentile) earn around $20,020 per year in Sumter, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,660.