How much does a cook make in Columbia?
$22,880a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $11.00 an hour or $1,907 a month.
- Hourly
- $11.00
- Vs. national median
- -26%
- Rank among cities
- 294 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 1,500
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,030Median: $22,880Highest 10%: $35,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,030 | $10.59 | |
| 25th | $22,630 | $10.88 | |
| Median | $22,880 | $11.00 | |
| 75th | $29,070 | $13.98 | |
| 90th | $35,950 | $17.28 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Charleston, SC | $32,380 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $28,290 |
| Greenville, SC | $28,210 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $28,030 |
| Charlotte, NC | $27,690 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $27,100 |
| Augusta, GA | $26,780 |
| Sumter, SC | $23,980 |
| Florence, SC | $23,310 |
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 |
| Cook | $34,800 |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Columbia?
The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $11.00 ($22,880 a year).
Do cooks make more in Columbia than the national average?
No: $22,880 against $30,890 nationally, 26% less.
How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $27,420, so Columbia pays 17% less.
Where does Columbia rank for cook pay?
294 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,030 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,950 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.