Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Augusta, GA-SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC

Median annual salary $30,750 -16.5% vs national
Median hourly $14.79
10th percentile $22,200
90th percentile $37,960
Employed locally 2,250
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,200
    25th
    $27,490
    50th (median)
    $30,750
    75th
    $35,960
    90th
    $37,960

    Augusta economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,628 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 54% 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
    Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $36,600
    Michigan $36,560

    Related occupations in Augusta, GA-SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$24,960
    Waiters and Waitresses$18,200
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,840
    Food Preparation Workers$30,530
    Bartenders$20,500
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$23,370

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Augusta, GA-SC is $14.79, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.58 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Augusta, GA-SC is 16.5% 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 Augusta?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,200 per year in Augusta, GA-SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,490.