Food Preparation Worker Salary in Atlanta, GA
Food Preparation Workers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $36,090 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,928 take-home, or $2,494 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,151
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,238
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Georgia income tax$1,250
- Take-home pay$29,928
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,910 | $13.42 | $23,768 | $1,981 |
| 25th percentile | $30,940 | $14.88 | $26,057 | $2,171 |
| Median (50th) | $36,090 | $17.35 | $29,928 | $2,494 |
| 75th percentile | $38,010 | $18.27 | $31,371 | $2,614 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,010 | $20.20 | $34,378 | $2,865 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,090 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 food preparation worker's $29,928 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,911 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 Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #28 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $36,090 | $29,928 | $29,911 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Atlanta, GA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $36,090 a year, or about $17.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,940 and $38,010.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $36,090 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $29,928 a year ($2,494 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,250 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,911 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #28 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 66% of a median food preparation worker’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, Restaurant — $37,230
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,080
- 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