Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Georgia
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Georgia earn a median of $35,090 a year ($16.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,540 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,450. Georgia ranks 41st of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 1.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $35,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Georgia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,220 | $13.57 |
| 25th percentile | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| Median | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 75th percentile | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,540 | $21.42 |
| Average (mean) | $35,380 | $17.01 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,924.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,462.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,349.62 |
| Weekly | $674.81 |
| Hourly | $16.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Georgia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, GA | $38,220 | 170 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,080 | 4,170 |
| Savannah, GA | $35,480 | 280 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $34,970 | 430 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,960 | 130 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $33,530 | 100 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $33,410 | 940 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $31,940 | 350 |
| Rome, GA | $31,150 | 90 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,090 | 260 |
| Albany, GA | $30,430 | 140 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $30,050 | 80 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,710 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Georgia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| Cooks, All Other | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,700 | $8.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| 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 |
| Dishwasher | $29,730 | $14.29 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,230 | $31.84 |
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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Georgia?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Georgia is $35,090 a year, or $16.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Georgia?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Georgia earn at least $44,540 a year. The top 25% earn $38,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Georgia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $30,220 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Georgia?
About 8,220 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Georgia, not counting the self-employed.