Salaries › Fast Food Cook › South Carolina
Fast Food Cook Salary in South Carolina (2026)
$13.18 per hour · take-home ≈ $23,702/year ($1,975/month) for a single filer
South Carolina ranks 43rd of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 14% below the national average. Of the 9,110 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in South Carolina, the typical worker earns $27,420 a year — though pay ranges from $21,690 for newcomers to $37,140 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in South Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $21,690 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $22,830 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $27,420 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $33,540 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $37,140 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 9,110 Fast Food Cook jobs in South Carolina (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Carolina
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $27,420 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 $23,702 — an effective tax rate of 13.6%.
| Gross (median) | $27,420 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,132 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,098 |
| South Carolina state income tax | −$488 |
| Take-home (annual) | $23,702 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,975 |
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 Fast Food Cook make in South Carolina?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in South Carolina is $27,420 per year ($13.18 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $22,830 and $33,540.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in South Carolina?
- On the median salary of $27,420, a single filer in South Carolina takes home about $23,702 per year ($1,975 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 13.6%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in South Carolina?
- BLS counts 9,110 Fast Food Cook jobs in South Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food 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.