Cooks, Restaurant salary in Sumter, SC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Sumter, SC metro area earn a median of $31,370 a year ($15.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,670 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 12% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $35,740. There are 8.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Sumter, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,300 | $11.68 |
| 25th percentile | $28,870 | $13.88 |
| Median | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| 75th percentile | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Average (mean) | $32,880 | $15.81 |
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 | $2,614.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,307.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,206.54 |
| Weekly | $603.27 |
| Hourly | $15.08 |
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 |
| Columbia, SC | $35,490 | 3,520 |
| 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 |
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 Sumter, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,980 | $11.53 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Sumter, SC?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Sumter, SC metro area is $31,370 a year, or $15.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Sumter, SC?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Sumter, SC metro area earn at least $38,670 a year. The top 25% earn $37,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Sumter, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,300 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,870 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Sumter, SC?
About 290 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Sumter, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.