Food Preparation Worker Salary in Charleston, SC
Food Preparation Workers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $36,220 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,267 take-home, or $2,522 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,166
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,246
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- South Carolina income tax$1,016
- Take-home pay$30,267
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,680 | $11.87 | $21,553 | $1,796 |
| 25th percentile | $29,630 | $14.25 | $25,367 | $2,114 |
| Median (50th) | $36,220 | $17.41 | $30,267 | $2,522 |
| 75th percentile | $38,520 | $18.52 | $31,977 | $2,665 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,550 | $21.42 | $36,460 | $3,038 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,220 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,267 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,978 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #26 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 26 | Charleston, SC | $36,220 | $30,267 | $29,978 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $30,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Charleston, SC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $36,220 a year, or about $17.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,630 and $38,520.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $36,220 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $30,267 a year ($2,522 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,016 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,978 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #26 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,500
- Bartender — $19,630
- Waiter and Waitress — $19,340