Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Augusta, GA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn a median $33,990 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,350 take-home, or $2,362 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Augusta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,899
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,107
- Medicare (1.45%)$493
- Georgia income tax$1,141
- Take-home pay$28,350
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro spans Georgia, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Augusta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,120 | $11.60 | $20,844 | $1,737 |
| 25th percentile | $28,130 | $13.52 | $23,938 | $1,995 |
| Median (50th) | $33,990 | $16.34 | $28,350 | $2,362 |
| 75th percentile | $35,980 | $17.30 | $29,845 | $2,487 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,720 | $19.58 | $33,408 | $2,784 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,990 buys in Augusta, GA
Prices in Augusta, GA are 8.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $28,350 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,847 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 Augusta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Augusta, GA ranks #237 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 |
| 237 | Augusta, GA | $33,990 | $28,350 | $30,847 |
*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
- Atlanta, GA — $37,230
- 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 Augusta, GA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $33,990 a year, or about $16.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,130 and $35,980.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Augusta, GA?
On the median $33,990 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $28,350 a year ($2,362 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,141 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Augusta, GA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,847 would in a typical U.S. city. Augusta, GA ranks #237 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Augusta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Augusta, GA is $1,110 a month ($1,258 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Augusta, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,120
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,090
- Dishwasher — $28,630
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $26,950
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,780
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,620
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $25,720
- Bartender — $21,100
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,390