Food Preparation Workers pay range in Hilton Head Island
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,600 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island earn between $29,740 and $38,120.
- $24K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
| Median | $36,920 | $3,077 | $17.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,740 | $2,478 | $14.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,120 | $3,177 | $18.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Hilton Head Island vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island earn 6% 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 +5% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island | $34,320 | $36,920 | $23,720 | $43,600 | 960 |
| 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 Hilton Head Island
On the average salary of $34,320, a single filer in Hilton Head Island takes home about $29,372 a year, or $2,448 a month and $1,130 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 Hilton Head Island a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hilton Head Island area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.0), so the average $34,320 buys what about $35,014 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hilton Head Island ($43,850). A typical home costs $527,324, or 15.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other South Carolina cities
Hilton Head Island ranks 2nd of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($35,170).
- 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 Hilton Head Island: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Hilton Head Island?
$16.50 an hour on average, and $17.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Hilton Head Island?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Hilton Head Island?
About $29,372 a year ($2,448 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,320.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC (25940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 2.05, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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