Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Greenville, SC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area earn a median $35,680 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,865 take-home, or $2,489 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Greenville, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,102
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,212
- Medicare (1.45%)$517
- South Carolina income tax$984
- Take-home pay$29,865
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Greenville, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,220 | $11.64 | $21,188 | $1,766 |
| 25th percentile | $30,790 | $14.80 | $26,229 | $2,186 |
| Median (50th) | $35,680 | $17.15 | $29,865 | $2,489 |
| 75th percentile | $37,870 | $18.21 | $31,493 | $2,624 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,860 | $21.57 | $36,691 | $3,058 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,680 buys in Greenville, SC
Prices in Greenville, SC are 6.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,865 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,024 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Greenville, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Greenville, SC ranks #154 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 154 | Greenville, SC | $35,680 | $29,865 | $32,024 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Florence, SC — $34,550
- Spartanburg, SC — $35,500
- Columbia, SC — $35,490
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $35,190
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $36,820
- Charleston, SC — $36,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Greenville, SC?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area is $35,680 a year, or about $17.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,790 and $37,870.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Greenville, SC?
On the median $35,680 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $29,865 a year ($2,489 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $984 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Greenville, SC a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 6.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,024 would in a typical U.S. city. Greenville, SC ranks #154 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Greenville, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Greenville, SC is $1,155 a month ($1,288 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Greenville, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,790
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,270
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,430
- Dishwasher — $29,590
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,210
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,850
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $26,830
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $19,950
- Bartender — $19,600