Cooks, Restaurant salary in Georgia
Cooks, Restaurant in Georgia earn a median of $35,940 a year ($17.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 46,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,210 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Georgia ranks 36th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 9.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,430, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Georgia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,160 | $11.62 |
| 25th percentile | $29,190 | $14.03 |
| Median | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| 75th percentile | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,210 | $20.77 |
| Average (mean) | $34,430 | $16.56 |
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 | $2,995 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,497.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,382.31 |
| Weekly | $691.15 |
| Hourly | $17.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Georgia
| 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 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,310 | 700 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Georgia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Georgia?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Georgia is $35,940 a year, or $17.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Georgia?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Georgia earn at least $43,210 a year. The top 25% earn $37,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Georgia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,160 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,190 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Georgia?
About 46,350 cooks, restaurant are employed in Georgia, not counting the self-employed.