Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn a median of $68,070 a year ($32.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,010 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% higher than the Georgia statewide median of $66,230. There are 0.98 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $67,300, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 25th percentile | $51,510 | $24.76 |
| Median | $68,070 | $32.72 |
| 75th percentile | $75,590 | $36.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,010 | $43.28 |
| Average (mean) | $67,300 | $32.36 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,672.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,836.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,618.08 |
| Weekly | $1,309.04 |
| Hourly | $32.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $68,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Georgia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $74,660 | 2,370 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $74,210 | 770 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $73,690 | 240 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $72,670 | 140 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $71,700 | 250 |
| Gainesville, GA | $70,780 | 40 |
| Columbia, SC | $69,820 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $69,680 | 360 |
| Florence, SC | $67,550 | 70 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $67,530 | 40 |
| Dalton, GA | $66,090 | 40 |
| Sumter, SC | $65,020 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | 1,480 |
| Savannah, GA | $63,700 | 260 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | 280 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $62,920 | 90 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $61,600 | 90 |
| Albany, GA | $59,540 | 40 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $50,330 | 60 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $50,080 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,390 | $8.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,780 | $12.88 |
| Bartender | $21,100 | $10.15 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,720 | $12.37 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,950 | $12.96 |
| Dishwasher | $28,630 | $13.77 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,970 | $16.81 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,590 | $14.71 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,230 | $12.61 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,490 | $13.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $68,070 a year, or $32.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn at least $90,010 a year. The top 25% earn $75,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,450 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $51,510 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About 230 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.