How much does a cook make in Charleston?
$32,020a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $15.39 an hour or $2,668 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.39
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 126 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,240Median: $32,020Highest 10%: $37,140
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,240 | $13.58 | |
| 25th | $30,840 | $14.83 | |
| Median | $32,020 | $15.39 | |
| 75th | $34,480 | $16.58 | |
| 90th | $37,140 | $17.86 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Charlotte, NC | $34,600 |
| Greenville, SC | $30,690 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,200 |
| Augusta, GA | $28,490 |
| Columbia, SC | $27,540 |
Related jobs in Charleston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $74,210 |
| 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 |
| Dishwasher | $31,800 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,140 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Charleston?
The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $15.39 ($32,020 a year).
Do cooks make more in Charleston than the national average?
No: $32,020 against $35,880 nationally, 11% less.
How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $29,640, so Charleston pays 8% more.
Where does Charleston rank for cook pay?
126 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,140 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.