Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Columbus, GA-AL

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

Median annual salary $29,890 -18.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.37
10th percentile $22,410
90th percentile $36,500
Employed locally 1,120
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,410
    25th
    $27,050
    50th (median)
    $29,890
    75th
    $34,410
    90th
    $36,500

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $57,762 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 52% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 48% 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 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
    Food Preparation Workers $29,410
    Cooks, Fast Food $24,930
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $29,430

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Columbus, GA-AL is $14.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.94 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbus, GA-AL is 18.8% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,410 per year in Columbus, GA-AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,050.