Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Atlanta, GA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $37,230 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,785 take-home, or $2,565 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,288
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,308
- Medicare (1.45%)$540
- Georgia income tax$1,309
- Take-home pay$30,785
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,370 | $13.16 | $23,351 | $1,946 |
| 25th percentile | $30,680 | $14.75 | $25,862 | $2,155 |
| Median (50th) | $37,230 | $17.90 | $30,785 | $2,565 |
| 75th percentile | $38,420 | $18.47 | $31,679 | $2,640 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,690 | $21.00 | $35,640 | $2,970 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,230 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,785 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,767 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #86 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 86 | Atlanta, GA | $37,230 | $30,785 | $30,767 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Savannah, GA — $35,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Atlanta, GA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $37,230 a year, or about $17.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,680 and $38,420.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $37,230 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $30,785 a year ($2,565 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,309 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,767 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #86 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,240
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $31,780
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,780
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,940
- Bartender — $23,350
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,460