Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Columbus, GA-AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbus, GA-AL

Median annual salary $24,930 -17.3% vs national
Median hourly $11.98
10th percentile $21,690
90th percentile $32,180
Employed locally 520
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,690
    25th
    $22,740
    50th (median)
    $24,930
    75th
    $28,650
    90th
    $32,180

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $57,762 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 57% 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 Columbus, GA-AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$23,000
    Waiters and Waitresses$17,490
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,150
    Cooks, Restaurant$29,890
    Food Preparation Workers$29,410
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$29,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Columbus?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Columbus, GA-AL is $11.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.16 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbus, GA-AL is 17.3% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $21,690 per year in Columbus, GA-AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,740.