How much does a cook make in Columbia?
$34,800a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $16.73 an hour or $2,900 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.73
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 283 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,460Median: $34,800Highest 10%: $42,720
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,460 | $11.28 | |
| 25th | $28,830 | $13.86 | |
| Median | $34,800 | $16.73 | |
| 75th | $37,790 | $18.17 | |
| 90th | $42,720 | $20.54 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $38,920 |
| Charlotte, NC | $37,690 |
| Charleston, SC | $36,990 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $36,130 |
| Greenville, SC | $35,270 |
| Augusta, GA | $34,970 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $34,080 |
| Florence, SC | $33,540 |
| Sumter, SC | $28,880 |
Related jobs in Columbia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $69,820 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,880 |
| Cook | $35,490 |
| Food Server | $31,400 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $31,050 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 |
| Dishwasher | $28,180 |
| Cook | $27,540 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,170 |
| Host and Hostess | $23,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Columbia?
The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $16.73 ($34,800 a year).
Do cooks make more in Columbia than the national average?
No: $34,800 against $37,450 nationally, 7% less.
How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $34,960, so Columbia pays 0% more.
Where does Columbia rank for cook pay?
283 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,720 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.