Food Preparation Worker Salary in Athens, GA
Food Preparation Workers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area earn a median $31,190 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,245 take-home, or $2,187 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Athens, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,563
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Georgia income tax$996
- Take-home pay$26,245
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Athens, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,460 | $10.80 | $19,563 | $1,630 |
| 25th percentile | $27,780 | $13.36 | $23,668 | $1,972 |
| Median (50th) | $31,190 | $15.00 | $26,245 | $2,187 |
| 75th percentile | $35,550 | $17.09 | $29,522 | $2,460 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,940 | $17.76 | $30,567 | $2,547 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,190 buys in Athens, GA
Prices in Athens, GA are 6.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,245 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,117 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Athens, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Athens, GA ranks #175 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 175 | Athens, GA | $31,190 | $26,245 | $28,117 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Gainesville, GA — $34,950
- Macon, GA — $31,550
- Atlanta, GA — $36,090
- Savannah, GA — $34,130
- Augusta, GA — $32,090
- Columbus, GA — $29,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Athens, GA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area is $31,190 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,780 and $35,550.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Athens, GA?
On the median $31,190 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $26,245 a year ($2,187 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $996 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Athens, GA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,117 would in a typical U.S. city. Athens, GA ranks #175 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Athens, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Athens, GA is $1,183 a month ($1,331 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Athens, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,060
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,540
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,220
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,090
- Bartender — $20,400