Food Preparation Worker Salary in Columbus, GA
Food Preparation Workers in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median $29,030 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,622 take-home, or $2,052 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Columbus, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,304
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,800
- Medicare (1.45%)$421
- Georgia income tax$884
- Take-home pay$24,622
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
The Columbus, GA-AL metro spans Georgia, Alabama. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Columbus, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,740 | $9.97 | $18,236 | $1,520 |
| 25th percentile | $22,110 | $10.63 | $19,293 | $1,608 |
| Median (50th) | $29,030 | $13.96 | $24,622 | $2,052 |
| 75th percentile | $33,450 | $16.08 | $27,944 | $2,329 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,910 | $17.26 | $29,793 | $2,483 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,030 buys in Columbus, GA
Prices in Columbus, GA are 10.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 39% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $24,622 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,573 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, GA has 1.2× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, GA ranks #197 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 |
| 197 | Columbus, GA | $29,030 | $24,622 | $27,573 |
*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
- Athens, GA — $31,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbus, GA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $29,030 a year, or about $13.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,110 and $33,450.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Columbus, GA?
On the median $29,030 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $24,622 a year ($2,052 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $884 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, GA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 10.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,573 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, GA ranks #197 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Columbus, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, GA is $936 a month ($1,084 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,180
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,470
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,300
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,800