Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Macon-Bibb County, GA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area earn a median of $50,080 a year ($24.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,080 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 24% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $66,230. There are 0.62 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $60,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Macon-Bibb County, GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| 25th percentile | $45,980 | $22.10 |
| Median | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| 75th percentile | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,080 | $43.31 |
| Average (mean) | $60,950 | $29.30 |
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 | $4,173.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,086.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,926.15 |
| Weekly | $963.08 |
| Hourly | $24.08 |
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 |
| 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 |
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 Macon-Bibb County, GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,000 | $12.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,830 | $8.57 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,140 | $11.12 |
| Bartender | $24,330 | $11.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,090 | $14.95 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,120 | $12.56 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,460 | $12.72 |
| Dishwasher | $28,280 | $13.59 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,570 | $14.70 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,910 | $12.46 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Macon-Bibb County, GA
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 Macon-Bibb County, GA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area is $50,080 a year, or $24.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Macon-Bibb County, GA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area earn at least $90,080 a year. The top 25% earn $74,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Macon-Bibb County, GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,480 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $45,980 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Macon-Bibb County, GA?
About 60 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.