Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › South Carolina
Cafeteria Cook Salary in South Carolina (2026)
$16.81 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,330/year ($2,444/month) for a single filer
South Carolina ranks 42nd of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 8% below the national average. Of the 7,850 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in South Carolina, the typical worker earns $34,960 a year — though pay ranges from $21,890 for newcomers to $42,680 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in South Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $21,890 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $29,130 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,960 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $42,680 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,850 Cafeteria Cook jobs in South Carolina (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Carolina
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $34,960 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus South Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $29,330 — an effective tax rate of 16.1%.
| Gross (median) | $34,960 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,015 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,674 |
| South Carolina state income tax | −$941 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,330 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,444 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free South Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in South Carolina?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in South Carolina is $34,960 per year ($16.81 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $29,130 and $37,250.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in South Carolina?
- On the median salary of $34,960, a single filer in South Carolina takes home about $29,330 per year ($2,444 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.1%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in South Carolina?
- BLS counts 7,850 Cafeteria Cook jobs in South Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in South Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified South Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for South Carolina.