How much does a chef and head cook make in Charleston?
$74,210a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $35.68 an hour or $6,184 a month.
- Hourly
- $35.68
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 770
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $47,480Median: $74,210Highest 10%: $87,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,480 | $22.83 | |
| 25th | $60,290 | $28.99 | |
| Median | $74,210 | $35.68 | |
| 75th | $80,430 | $38.67 | |
| 90th | $87,600 | $42.12 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $73,690 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $72,670 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $71,700 |
| Columbia, SC | $69,820 |
| Greenville, SC | $69,680 |
| Augusta, GA | $68,070 |
| Florence, SC | $67,550 |
| Charlotte, NC | $64,260 |
Related jobs in Charleston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,620 |
| Cook | $36,990 |
| Cook | $36,710 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,220 |
| Food Server | $33,970 |
| Cook | $32,380 |
| Cook | $32,020 |
| Dishwasher | $31,800 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,140 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Charleston?
The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $35.68 ($74,210 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Charleston than the national average?
Yes: $74,210 against $62,470 nationally, 19% more.
How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $71,860, so Charleston pays 3% more.
Where does Charleston rank for chef and head cook pay?
17 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $47,480 or less a year; the top 10% make $87,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.