Food Preparation Workers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,550 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Charleston earn between $29,630 and $38,520.
- $25K10th
- $30K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,170 | $2,931 | $16.91 |
| Median | $36,220 | $3,018 | $17.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,630 | $2,469 | $14.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,520 | $3,210 | $18.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Charleston earn 9% more than the South Carolina average ($32,300) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $35,170 | $36,220 | $24,680 | $44,550 | 2,650 |
| South Carolina | $32,300 | $32,180 | $22,990 | $40,370 | 14,460 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $35,170, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $30,038 a year, or $2,503 a month and $1,155 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 food preparation workers? 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 $35,170 buys what about $34,835 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 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers 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$35,170
- Hilton Head Island$34,320
- Myrtle Beach$31,810
- Greenville$31,680
- Spartanburg$31,460
- Columbia$31,450
- Florence$29,210
- Sumter$27,450
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Charleston?
$16.91 an hour on average, and $17.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $30,038 a year ($2,503 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,170.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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