What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia, SC is $69,820.

How does Columbia pay compare to the US median for Chefs and Head Cooks?

Local median pay is 11.8% above the national OEWS median of $62,470.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for Columbia is 93.7 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $69,820 has about the same purchasing power as $74,514 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Chefs and Head Cooks, Columbia

$69,820

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Columbia, SC. Middle half of wages roughly $55,120 to $79,250.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: +11.8%
US median: $62,470
Metro RPP: 93.7
Middle half: $55,120 to $79,250
OEWS employment: 280
SOC: 35-1011

Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia pay a median $69,820 (May 2025), 11.8% above the US median of $62,470. At local prices (RPP 93.7), that median buys about what $74,514 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$69,820 in Columbia buys about what $74,514 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 93.7, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 79.5 vs all-items 93.7 (US = 100, 2024).

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Chefs and Head Cooks in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
Columbia	$69,820	$55,120 to $79,250	93.7
Cleveland	$57,020	$47,570 to $76,320	93.9
San Francisco	$68,970	$48,110 to $90,530	115.6
Tulsa	$54,930	$36,080 to $63,680	89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia, SC is $69,820.
How does Columbia pay compare to the US median for Chefs and Head Cooks?: Local median pay is 11.8% above the national OEWS median of $62,470.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for Columbia is 93.7 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $69,820 has about the same purchasing power as $74,514 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.