Cooks, Fast Food salary in Gainesville, GA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn a median of $27,890 a year ($13.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,720 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 4% higher than the Georgia statewide median of $26,940. There are 2.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $28,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Gainesville, GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| 25th percentile | $22,820 | $10.97 |
| Median | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| 75th percentile | $30,250 | $14.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Average (mean) | $28,170 | $13.54 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,324.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,162.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,072.69 |
| Weekly | $536.35 |
| Hourly | $13.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $26,940 | 7,100 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $26,920 | 280 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,890 | 940 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,780 | 880 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $26,750 | 180 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $26,560 | 790 |
| Valdosta, GA | $23,640 | 270 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $23,140 | 380 |
| Albany, GA | $22,550 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gainesville, GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,310 | $16.97 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,950 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,690 | $12.83 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,980 | $8.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Dishwasher | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,340 | $13.62 |
| Bartender | $24,180 | $11.63 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,180 | $15.95 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $23,160 | $11.14 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,780 | $34.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Gainesville, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Gainesville, GA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Gainesville, GA metro area is $27,890 a year, or $13.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Gainesville, GA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn at least $34,720 a year. The top 25% earn $30,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Gainesville, GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,800 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,820 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Gainesville, GA?
About 290 cooks, fast food are employed in the Gainesville, GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.