Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Columbus, GA-AL

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

Median annual salary $29,430 -19.3% vs national
Median hourly $14.15
10th percentile $21,270
90th percentile $37,340
Employed locally 370
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,270
    25th
    $26,520
    50th (median)
    $29,430
    75th
    $34,890
    90th
    $37,340

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $57,762 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $38,570
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $38,220
    Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $36,980
    Gainesville, GA $36,950
    Sheboygan, WI $36,590
    Logan, UT-ID $36,210

    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, Fast Food $24,930

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Columbus?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Columbus, GA-AL is $14.15, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.78 or more per hour.

    Is Columbus above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Columbus, GA-AL is 19.3% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Columbus?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $21,270 per year in Columbus, GA-AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,520.