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
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 #243 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 243 | 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 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Brunswick, GA — $34,480
- Savannah, GA — $35,940
- Augusta, GA — $33,990
- Gainesville, GA — $35,310
- Macon, GA — $31,650
- Athens, GA — $33,540
- Columbus, GA — $30,470
- Warner Robins, GA — $32,180
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 #243 of 327 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
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $27,280
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,940
- Bartender — $23,350