Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $30,470 a year ($14.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,310 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 15% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $35,940. There are 9.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,000 | $11.06 |
| 25th percentile | $27,590 | $13.27 |
| Median | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| 75th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Average (mean) | $30,880 | $14.85 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,539.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,269.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,171.92 |
| Weekly | $585.96 |
| Hourly | $14.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,230 | 29,040 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Savannah, GA | $35,940 | 2,570 |
| Huntsville, AL | $35,520 | 1,800 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,310 | 700 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $34,480 | 760 |
| Birmingham, AL | $34,340 | 4,020 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,990 | 2,200 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $33,850 | 1,600 |
| Rome, GA | $33,620 | 400 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,540 | 1,120 |
| Montgomery, AL | $33,070 | 1,280 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,030 | 1,310 |
| Decatur, AL | $32,410 | 380 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $32,180 | 780 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,650 | 970 |
| Dalton, GA | $31,060 | 410 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,690 | 890 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $30,580 | 760 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $30,350 | 590 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,880 | 680 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $29,850 | 390 |
| Dothan, AL | $29,710 | 560 |
| Albany, GA | $29,150 | 470 |
| Gadsden, AL | $28,790 | 400 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| 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 |
| Dishwasher | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $30,470 a year, or $14.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $37,310 a year. The top 25% earn $34,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,000 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $27,590 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 1,130 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.