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

Restaurant Cook Salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

In the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $37,400 ($17.98/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,400/year and the 90th was $47,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,785 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 98.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$37,400$17.98 per hour · $3,117 monthly
10th Percentile$27,400$13.17/hr base
25th Percentile$31,900$15.34/hr base
75th Percentile$40,300$19.38/hr base
90th Percentile$47,800$22.98/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 Pay Explorer

$37,400
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$37,400
Net 85%
Fed 6%
SC 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,785After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,649Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,223Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,308 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$446 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,861 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (SC)
10th Percentile$13.17/hr$2,283$27,400$23,927
25th Percentile$15.34/hr$2,658$31,900$27,475
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.98/hr$3,117$37,400$31,785
75th Percentile$19.38/hr$3,358$40,300$34,056
90th Percentile$22.98/hr$3,983$47,800$39,734

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 $$37,400 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 Ratio44.9%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in South Carolina:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is $37,400, which equates to approximately $3,117 per month or $17.98 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is $17.98 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.17/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.98/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC span from $27,400 at the 10th percentile to $31,900 at the 25th, $40,300 at the 75th, and $47,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

On a median gross salary of $37,400, an estimated $31,785 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,223 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,615 (an effective rate of 15%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

On the median annual salary of $37,400, gross monthly income is $3,117. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,649 per month (or $1,223 every two weeks).

Is $37,400 a good salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

At $37,400, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 44.9% 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.