Food Preparation Worker Salary in Macon, GA
Food Preparation Workers in the Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area earn a median $31,550 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,516 take-home, or $2,210 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Macon, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,606
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,956
- Medicare (1.45%)$457
- Georgia income tax$1,015
- Take-home pay$26,516
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Macon, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,720 | $10.92 | $19,764 | $1,647 |
| 25th percentile | $27,620 | $13.28 | $23,544 | $1,962 |
| Median (50th) | $31,550 | $15.17 | $26,516 | $2,210 |
| 75th percentile | $35,460 | $17.05 | $29,455 | $2,455 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,500 | $18.51 | $31,739 | $2,645 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,550 buys in Macon, GA
Prices in Macon, GA are 11.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,516 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,952 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 Macon, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Macon, GA ranks #105 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 |
| 105 | Macon, GA | $31,550 | $26,516 | $29,952 |
*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
- 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 Macon, GA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area is $31,550 a year, or about $15.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,620 and $35,460.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Macon, GA?
On the median $31,550 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $26,516 a year ($2,210 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,015 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Macon, GA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,952 would in a typical U.S. city. Macon, GA ranks #105 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Macon, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Macon, GA is $1,145 a month ($1,291 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Macon, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,340
- Cooks, Restaurant — $31,650
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $25,000
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,830