Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Atlanta, GA

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

Median annual salary $26,150 -13.3% vs national
Median hourly $12.57
10th percentile $22,880
90th percentile $34,320
Employed locally 3,870
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Atlanta, GA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,880
    25th
    $24,000
    50th (median)
    $26,150
    75th
    $34,320
    90th
    $34,320

    Atlanta economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,338 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 30% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 70% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $32,970
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $32,820
    Logan, UT-ID $29,860
    Michigan $29,340
    Michigan City-La Porte, IN $28,580
    Gainesville, FL $28,320

    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 Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Atlanta?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Atlanta, GA is $12.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.72 or more per hour.

    Is Atlanta above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Atlanta, GA is 13.3% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Atlanta?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,880 per year in Atlanta, GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,000.