Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Georgia
Chefs and Head Cooks in Georgia earn a median of $66,230 a year ($31.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,970 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $62,470. Georgia ranks 12th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.75 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $70,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Georgia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| 25th percentile | $50,220 | $24.15 |
| Median | $66,230 | $31.84 |
| 75th percentile | $90,350 | $43.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,970 | $48.54 |
| Average (mean) | $70,450 | $33.87 |
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 | $5,519.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,759.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,547.31 |
| Weekly | $1,273.65 |
| Hourly | $31.84 |
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 cities in Georgia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $74,660 | 2,370 |
| Gainesville, GA | $70,780 | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $68,070 | 230 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $67,530 | 40 |
| Dalton, GA | $66,090 | 40 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Georgia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,700 | $8.99 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,850 | $13.39 |
| Bartender | $22,830 | $10.98 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,920 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Dishwasher | $29,730 | $14.29 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,740 | $12.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Georgia
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 Georgia?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Georgia is $66,230 a year, or $31.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Georgia?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Georgia earn at least $100,970 a year. The top 25% earn $90,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Georgia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,300 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $50,220 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Georgia?
About 3,680 chefs and head cooks are employed in Georgia, not counting the self-employed.