Salaries › Cook › South Carolina
Cook Salary in South Carolina (2026)
$17.18 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,910/year ($2,492/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in South Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $26,200 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $30,470 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,740 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,560 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,680 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 25,890 Cook jobs in South Carolina (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Carolina
A median Cook salary of $35,740 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 $29,910 — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
| Gross (median) | $35,740 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,109 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,734 |
| South Carolina state income tax | −$987 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,910 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,492 |
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 Cook make in South Carolina?
- The median Cook salary in South Carolina is $35,740 per year ($17.18 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $30,470 and $38,560.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in South Carolina?
- On the median salary of $35,740, a single filer in South Carolina takes home about $29,910 per year ($2,492 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in South Carolina?
- BLS counts 25,890 Cook jobs in South Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for 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.