Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbia, SC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $35,490 a year ($17.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,220 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $35,740. There are 8.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,580, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| 25th percentile | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Median | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| 75th percentile | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Average (mean) | $34,580 | $16.62 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,957.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,478.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,365 |
| Weekly | $682.50 |
| Hourly | $17.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,030 | 14,430 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,820 | 1,730 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,710 | 6,040 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,680 | 4,360 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $35,500 | 1,180 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,190 | 3,420 |
| Florence, SC | $34,550 | 730 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,990 | 2,200 |
| Sumter, SC | $31,370 | 290 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Columbia, SC metro area is $35,490 a year, or $17.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $43,220 a year. The top 25% earn $38,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,870 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,470 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Columbia, SC?
About 3,520 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.