Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Atlanta, GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

Median annual salary $57,860 -5.1% vs national
Median hourly $27.82
10th percentile $40,190
90th percentile $92,070
Employed locally 2,770
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Atlanta, GA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,190
    25th
    $47,390
    50th (median)
    $57,860
    75th
    $73,300
    90th
    $92,070

    Atlanta economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,338 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 67% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $65,930
    Sheboygan, WI $63,740
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $60,740
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $58,590
    Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $58,560

    Related occupations in Atlanta, GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,160
    Waiters and Waitresses $20,270
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,600
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,550
    Food Preparation Workers $35,700
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $29,060

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Atlanta?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Atlanta, GA is $27.82, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.54 or more per hour.

    Is Atlanta above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Atlanta, GA is 5.1% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Atlanta?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,190 per year in Atlanta, GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,390.