Food Preparation Worker salary in Spartanburg, SC
Food Preparation Workers in the Spartanburg, SC metro area earn a median of $29,460 a year ($14.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,490 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 8% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $32,180. There are 6.9 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $31,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Spartanburg, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,550 | $11.32 |
| 25th percentile | $26,790 | $12.88 |
| Median | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| 75th percentile | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,490 | $18.98 |
| Average (mean) | $31,460 | $15.12 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,455 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,227.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,133.08 |
| Weekly | $566.54 |
| Hourly | $14.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,920 | 960 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,220 | 2,650 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,180 | 5,800 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $33,330 | 1,320 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $32,090 | 1,120 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,430 | 2,780 |
| Columbia, SC | $30,260 | 2,030 |
| Florence, SC | $29,180 | 530 |
| Sumter, SC | $28,230 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Spartanburg, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,080 | $16.39 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,390 | $13.17 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,370 | $8.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Bartender | $20,090 | $9.66 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| Dishwasher | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,670 | $34.94 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,390 | $16.05 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Spartanburg, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Spartanburg, SC?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Spartanburg, SC metro area is $29,460 a year, or $14.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Spartanburg, SC?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Spartanburg, SC metro area earn at least $39,490 a year. The top 25% earn $35,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Spartanburg, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,550 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $26,790 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Spartanburg, SC?
About 1,130 food preparation workers are employed in the Spartanburg, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.