Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Athens, GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Athens-Clarke County, GA

Median annual salary $30,990 -15.9% vs national
Median hourly $14.90
10th percentile $23,190
90th percentile $37,870
Employed locally 1,070
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,190
    25th
    $28,660
    50th (median)
    $30,990
    75th
    $35,610
    90th
    $37,870

    Athens economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,897 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $37,700
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $37,220
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $37,090
    Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $36,600
    Sheboygan, WI $36,600
    Michigan $36,560

    Related occupations in Athens, GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $24,530
    Waiters and Waitresses $17,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,740
    Food Preparation Workers $30,320
    Bartenders $19,500
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $25,080

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Athens?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Athens, GA is $14.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.32 or more per hour.

    Is Athens above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Athens, GA is 15.9% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Athens?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,190 per year in Athens, GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,660.