Food Preparation Worker salary in South Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in South Carolina earns a median of $32,180 a year ($15.47/hour equivalent), 8.9% below the national median of $35,320. South Carolina ranks #33 of 51 states. About 14,460 people do this job in South Carolina.
Take-home pay in South Carolina
At the South Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $27,695 a year after federal, FICA and South Carolina taxes — $1,065 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the South Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,237.69
- Federal income tax
- −$64.68
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$76.74
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$17.95
- South Carolina income tax
- −$13.15
- Take-home pay
- $1,065.18
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $32,180
- Federal
- $1,682
- FICA
- $2,462
- State + local
- $342
- Net
- $27,695
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 2.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How South Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #33 | South Carolina | $32,180 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in South Carolina?
The median salary is $32,180 a year and the average is $32,300 (BLS May 2025).
Is South Carolina a good state for food preparation workers?
South Carolina ranks #33 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 9% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $32,180 after taxes in South Carolina?
About $27,695 a year ($1,065 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.