Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Atlanta, GA

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

Median annual salary $36,600 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.60
10th percentile $23,210
90th percentile $43,680
Employed locally 31,750
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Atlanta, GA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,210
    25th
    $30,490
    50th (median)
    $36,600
    75th
    $38,280
    90th
    $43,680

    Atlanta economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,338 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 58% 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
    Sheboygan, WI $36,600
    Michigan $36,560
    Savannah, GA $35,450

    Related occupations in Atlanta, GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,160
    Waiters and Waitresses $20,270
    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
    Bartenders $24,930

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Atlanta, GA is $17.60, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.01 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Atlanta, GA is 0.6% 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 Atlanta?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,210 per year in Atlanta, GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,490.