Cooks, Fast Food salary in Sumter, SC
Cooks, Fast Food in the Sumter, SC metro area earn a median of $23,980 a year ($11.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,900 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 13% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $27,420. There are 8.2 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Sumter, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,870 | $10.03 |
| 25th percentile | $21,230 | $10.21 |
| Median | $23,980 | $11.53 |
| 75th percentile | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| Average (mean) | $25,840 | $12.42 |
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 | $1,998.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $999.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $922.31 |
| Weekly | $461.15 |
| Hourly | $11.53 |
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 |
| Florence, SC | $23,310 | 390 |
| Columbia, SC | $22,880 | 1,500 |
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 Sumter, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,230 | $13.57 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $24,510 | $11.78 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,440 | $8.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Bartender | $18,040 | $8.67 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,350 | $11.23 |
| Dishwasher | $26,740 | $12.86 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,260 | $10.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,020 | $31.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Sumter, SC metro area is $23,980 a year, or $11.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Sumter, SC?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Sumter, SC metro area earn at least $33,900 a year. The top 25% earn $29,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Sumter, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,870 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $21,230 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Sumter, SC?
About 280 cooks, fast food are employed in the Sumter, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.