How to Become a Culinary Professional in South Carolina (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina employs about 25,890 culinary professionals earning a median $35,740 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in South Carolina.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in South Carolina

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
152.6$2,792 in-state / $8,936 out-of-state$48,44131%Yes*103 mi
252.2$42,419$54,53049%—104 mi
Sponsored Ad
351.3$5,071 in-state / $10,135 out-of-state$48,99128%Yes*111 mi
450.6$4,546 in-state / $8,620 out-of-state$58,78330%Yes*69 mi
Sponsored Ad
550.3$4,468 in-state / $8,836 out-of-state$46,00038%Yes*100 mi
650.1$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state$40,63543%Yes*111 mi
Sponsored Ad
749.3$2,581 in-state / $8,725 out-of-state$46,13533%Yes*119 mi
845.4$4,282 in-state / $7,492 out-of-state$43,46931%Yes*78 mi
Sponsored Ad
935.2$5,664 in-state / $6,024 out-of-state$36,01721%—81 mi
1030.0$17,924$33,37436%—77 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

South Carolina employs approximately 25,890 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,740 1. The state’s concentration of culinary professional jobs is 1.24x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 250,700 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in South Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school or community college
  • Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
  • Median wage (South Carolina): $35,740 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in South Carolina

How to become a Culinary Professional in South Carolina? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in South Carolina.

How long does it take? culinary professional training length in South Carolina varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do culinary professionals earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in South Carolina is $35,740 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,200 and experienced professionals can earn $45,680 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in South Carolina

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Carolina training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in South Carolina that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to culinary professionals in South Carolina before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in South Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia18,450$39,152$39,463$29,511$49,912
Charleston-North Charleston7,430$40,793$40,959$28,889$51,094
Greenville-Anderson-Greer5,410$37,803$37,405$25,598$47,484
Columbia4,240$37,582$36,729$27,835$45,995
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach3,940$37,251$36,898$29,036$44,793
Augusta-Richmond County2,750$36,457$35,216$25,402$45,089
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal2,070$41,204$42,219$30,846$53,234
Spartanburg1,540$38,782$38,197$26,839$47,652
Florence800$37,438$36,010$23,848$45,954
Sumter320$34,525$35,656$25,922$42,319

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 25,890 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in South Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Carolina.

How much do culinary professionals earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in South Carolina is $35,740, which is $1,090 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In South Carolina

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)