Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbia, SC
Cooks, Fast Food in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $22,880 a year ($11.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,950 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 17% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $27,420. There are 3.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $26,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| 25th percentile | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| Median | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 75th percentile | $29,070 | $13.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Average (mean) | $26,500 | $12.74 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,906.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $953.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $880 |
| Weekly | $440 |
| Hourly | $11.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $32,380 | 1,090 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $28,290 | 300 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $28,210 | 1,970 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $28,030 | 630 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $27,690 | 15,830 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $27,100 | 840 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,780 | 880 |
| Sumter, SC | $23,980 | 280 |
| Florence, SC | $23,310 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,810 | $8.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Dishwasher | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Bartender | $19,230 | $9.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,070 | $11.09 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,920 | $10.06 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Columbia, SC metro area is $22,880 a year, or $11.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $35,950 a year. The top 25% earn $29,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,030 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,630 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,500 cooks, fast food are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.