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Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

In the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $33,600 ($16.15/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,000/year and the 90th was $42,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,807 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 98.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$33,600$16.15 per hour · $2,800 monthly
10th Percentile$24,000$11.54/hr base
25th Percentile$29,100$13.99/hr base
75th Percentile$38,700$18.61/hr base
90th Percentile$42,200$20.29/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $34,000 a year leaves after tax in South CarolinaFederal tax, FICA and South Carolina withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$16 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $34,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $34,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation South Carolina publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about South Carolina.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$33,600
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,600
Net 86%
Fed 6%
SC 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,807After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,401Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,108Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,852 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$370 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,570 / yr
Customize deductions in full South Carolina calculator

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (SC)
10th Percentile$11.54/hr$2,000$24,000$21,195
25th Percentile$13.99/hr$2,425$29,100$25,281
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.15/hr$2,800$33,600$28,807
75th Percentile$18.61/hr$3,225$38,700$32,804
90th Percentile$20.29/hr$3,517$42,200$35,534

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$33,600 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$83,304Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index98.02% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio40.3%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in South Carolina:

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Food Preparation Workers pay in other South Carolina metros

These metro areas are in the same state and closest in population to Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC. Compare their wage distributions before using a statewide average.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is $33,600, which equates to approximately $2,800 per month or $16.15 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is $16.15 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.54/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.29/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC span from $24,000 at the 10th percentile to $29,100 at the 25th, $38,700 at the 75th, and $42,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

On a median gross salary of $33,600, an estimated $28,807 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,108 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,793 (an effective rate of 14.3%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

On the median annual salary of $33,600, gross monthly income is $2,800. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,401 per month (or $1,108 every two weeks).

Is $33,600 a good salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

At $33,600, the median salary for food preparation workers is 40.3% of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC median household income ($83,304). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 98.0, making regional consumer goods and services 2% cheaper than the U.S. average.