Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Atlanta, GA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $37,080 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,672 take-home, or $2,556 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,270
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,299
- Medicare (1.45%)$538
- Georgia income tax$1,302
- Take-home pay$30,672
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,830 | $14.82 | $25,975 | $2,165 |
| 25th percentile | $33,860 | $16.28 | $28,252 | $2,354 |
| Median (50th) | $37,080 | $17.83 | $30,672 | $2,556 |
| 75th percentile | $41,210 | $19.81 | $33,776 | $2,815 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,710 | $21.98 | $37,158 | $3,097 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,080 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, institution and cafeteria's $30,672 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,654 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.51), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #31 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 31 | Atlanta, GA | $37,080 | $30,672 | $30,654 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Atlanta, GA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $37,080 a year, or about $17.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,860 and $41,210.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $37,080 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $30,672 a year ($2,556 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,302 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,654 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #31 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
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- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,240
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,230
- 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