Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Savannah, GA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Savannah, GA metro area earn a median $35,940 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,815 take-home, or $2,485 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Savannah, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,133
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,228
- Medicare (1.45%)$521
- Georgia income tax$1,242
- Take-home pay$29,815
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Savannah, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,850 | $12.91 | $22,950 | $1,913 |
| 25th percentile | $30,020 | $14.43 | $25,366 | $2,114 |
| Median (50th) | $35,940 | $17.28 | $29,815 | $2,485 |
| 75th percentile | $38,040 | $18.29 | $31,394 | $2,616 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,200 | $22.21 | $37,527 | $3,127 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,940 buys in Savannah, GA
Prices in Savannah, GA are 4.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,815 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,317 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Savannah, GA has 1.4× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Savannah, GA ranks #208 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 |
| 208 | Savannah, GA | $35,940 | $29,815 | $31,317 |
*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
- Augusta, GA — $33,990
- 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 Savannah, GA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Savannah, GA metro area is $35,940 a year, or about $17.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,020 and $38,040.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Savannah, GA?
On the median $35,940 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $29,815 a year ($2,485 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,242 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Savannah, GA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,317 would in a typical U.S. city. Savannah, GA ranks #208 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Savannah, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Savannah, GA is $1,533 a month ($1,680 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Savannah, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,680
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,130
- Dishwasher — $29,680
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,460
- Bartender — $21,980
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,830