Food Preparation Worker Salary in Myrtle Beach, SC
Food Preparation Workers in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area earn a median $33,330 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,118 take-home, or $2,343 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Myrtle Beach, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,820
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,066
- Medicare (1.45%)$483
- South Carolina income tax$843
- Take-home pay$28,118
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Myrtle Beach, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,560 | $10.85 | $19,871 | $1,656 |
| 25th percentile | $27,090 | $13.02 | $23,450 | $1,954 |
| Median (50th) | $33,330 | $16.02 | $28,118 | $2,343 |
| 75th percentile | $35,820 | $17.22 | $29,969 | $2,497 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,520 | $19.00 | $32,720 | $2,727 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,330 buys in Myrtle Beach, SC
Prices in Myrtle Beach, SC are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,118 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,027 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Myrtle Beach, SC has 1.6× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Myrtle Beach, SC ranks #102 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 102 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $33,330 | $28,118 | $30,027 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $36,920
- Charleston, SC — $36,220
- Florence, SC — $29,180
- Greenville, SC — $30,430
- Spartanburg, SC — $29,460
- Columbia, SC — $30,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Myrtle Beach, SC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area is $33,330 a year, or about $16.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,090 and $35,820.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Myrtle Beach, SC?
On the median $33,330 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $28,118 a year ($2,343 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $843 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Myrtle Beach, SC a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,027 would in a typical U.S. city. Myrtle Beach, SC ranks #102 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Myrtle Beach, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Myrtle Beach, SC is $1,229 a month ($1,465 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Myrtle Beach, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,080
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,190
- Dishwasher — $28,610
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,600
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,100
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,150
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $24,630
- Bartender — $17,420
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,350