Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Gainesville, GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Gainesville, GA

Median annual salary $35,020 -4.9% vs national
Median hourly $16.84
10th percentile $23,880
90th percentile $42,700
Employed locally 800
National median $36,830

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,880
    25th
    $29,750
    50th (median)
    $35,020
    75th
    $37,070
    90th
    $42,700

    Gainesville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,430 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 55% 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 Gainesville, GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,730
    Waiters and Waitresses $19,650
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,280
    Food Preparation Workers $34,090
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,890
    Dishwashers $29,640

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Gainesville, GA is $16.84, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.08 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Gainesville, GA is 4.9% 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 Gainesville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,880 per year in Gainesville, GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,750.