Cooks, Short Order salary in Columbia, SC
Cooks, Short Order in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $27,540 a year ($13.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,580 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 7% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $29,640. There are 0.25 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.28). The average (mean) salary is $28,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| 25th percentile | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Median | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| 75th percentile | $30,130 | $14.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,580 | $16.62 |
| Average (mean) | $28,840 | $13.87 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,295 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,147.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,059.23 |
| Weekly | $529.62 |
| Hourly | $13.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,600 | 530 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $32,020 | n/a |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,690 | 110 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,200 | 70 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $28,490 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, Fast Food | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Columbia, SC metro area is $27,540 a year, or $13.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $34,580 a year. The top 25% earn $30,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,540 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,540 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Columbia, SC?
About 100 cooks, short order are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.