Food Preparation Worker Salary in Gainesville, GA
Food Preparation Workers in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn a median $34,950 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,071 take-home, or $2,423 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Gainesville, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,014
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,167
- Medicare (1.45%)$507
- Georgia income tax$1,191
- Take-home pay$29,071
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Gainesville, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,230 | $11.65 | $20,929 | $1,744 |
| 25th percentile | $30,270 | $14.55 | $25,554 | $2,129 |
| Median (50th) | $34,950 | $16.80 | $29,071 | $2,423 |
| 75th percentile | $37,170 | $17.87 | $30,740 | $2,562 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,780 | $19.61 | $33,453 | $2,788 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,950 buys in Gainesville, GA
Prices in Gainesville, GA are 3.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,071 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,043 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 Gainesville, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Gainesville, GA ranks #99 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 |
| 99 | Gainesville, GA | $34,950 | $29,071 | $30,043 |
*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
- Macon, GA — $31,550
- Atlanta, GA — $36,090
- Savannah, GA — $34,130
- Augusta, GA — $32,090
- Athens, GA — $31,190
- Columbus, GA — $29,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Gainesville, GA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Gainesville, GA metro area is $34,950 a year, or about $16.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,270 and $37,170.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Gainesville, GA?
On the median $34,950 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $29,071 a year ($2,423 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,191 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Gainesville, GA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,043 would in a typical U.S. city. Gainesville, GA ranks #99 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Gainesville, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Gainesville, GA is $1,381 a month ($1,514 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Gainesville, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,270
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,310
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,690
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,980