Cooks, Restaurant salary in Gainesville, GA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn a median of $35,310 a year ($16.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,850 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $35,940. There are 6.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $33,570, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Gainesville, GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,820 | $11.94 |
| 25th percentile | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| Median | $35,310 | $16.97 |
| 75th percentile | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,850 | $21.08 |
| Average (mean) | $33,570 | $16.14 |
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 | $2,942.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,471.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,358.08 |
| Weekly | $679.04 |
| Hourly | $16.97 |
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 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $34,480 | 760 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,990 | 2,200 |
| Rome, GA | $33,620 | 400 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,540 | 1,120 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $32,180 | 780 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,650 | 970 |
| Dalton, GA | $31,060 | 410 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $30,470 | 1,130 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,880 | 680 |
| Albany, GA | $29,150 | 470 |
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 Gainesville, GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,950 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Gainesville, GA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Gainesville, GA metro area is $35,310 a year, or $16.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Gainesville, GA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn at least $43,850 a year. The top 25% earn $36,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Gainesville, GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,820 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,910 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Gainesville, GA?
About 700 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Gainesville, GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.