Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,960 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Charleston earn between $24,720 and $35,250.
- $22K10th
- $25K25th
- $32KMedian
- $35K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,410 | $2,618 | $15.10 |
| Median | $32,380 | $2,698 | $15.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,720 | $2,060 | $11.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,250 | $2,938 | $16.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Charleston earn 12% more than the South Carolina average ($28,080) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $31,410 | $32,380 | $21,770 | $38,960 | 1,090 |
| South Carolina | $28,080 | $27,420 | $21,690 | $37,140 | 9,110 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $31,410, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $27,091 a year, or $2,258 a month and $1,042 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $31,410 buys what about $31,111 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 13.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$31,410
- Hilton Head Island$29,860
- Greenville$28,920
- Spartanburg$27,800
- Myrtle Beach$26,850
- Columbia$26,500
- Sumter$25,840
- Florence$24,890
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Charleston: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Charleston?
$15.10 an hour on average, and $15.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Charleston?
About $27,091 a year ($2,258 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,410.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2011; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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