Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $62,920 a year ($30.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,050 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 5% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $66,230. There are 0.78 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $63,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| 25th percentile | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| Median | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| 75th percentile | $86,970 | $41.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,050 | $45.70 |
| Average (mean) | $63,580 | $30.57 |
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 | $5,243.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,621.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,420 |
| Weekly | $1,210 |
| Hourly | $30.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $74,660 | 2,370 |
| Gainesville, GA | $70,780 | 40 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $68,830 | 40 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $68,830 | 90 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $68,070 | 230 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $67,530 | 40 |
| Dalton, GA | $66,090 | 40 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $65,900 | 70 |
| Huntsville, AL | $64,000 | 90 |
| Savannah, GA | $63,700 | 260 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | 280 |
| Birmingham, AL | $62,760 | 240 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $61,600 | 90 |
| Montgomery, AL | $61,330 | 90 |
| Albany, GA | $59,540 | 40 |
| Mobile, AL | $58,130 | 100 |
| 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 Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Bartender | $20,940 | $10.07 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,740 | $12.38 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,890 | $11.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Dishwasher | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,370 | $12.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-AL
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 Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $62,920 a year, or $30.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $95,050 a year. The top 25% earn $86,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,960 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $45,280 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 90 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.