How much does a cook make in Athens?
$33,540a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area. That is $16.13 an hour or $2,795 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.13
- Vs. national median
- -10%
- Rank among cities
- 303 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,990Median: $33,540Highest 10%: $40,180
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,990 | $11.53 | |
| 25th | $28,530 | $13.72 | |
| Median | $33,540 | $16.13 | |
| 75th | $35,500 | $17.07 | |
| 90th | $40,180 | $19.32 |
Other cities in Georgia
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Atlanta, GA | $37,230 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $36,010 |
| Savannah, GA | $35,940 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,310 |
| Brunswick, GA | $34,480 |
| Augusta, GA | $33,990 |
| Rome, GA | $33,620 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $32,180 |
| Macon, GA | $31,650 |
| Dalton, GA | $31,060 |
| Columbus, GA | $30,470 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,880 |
| Albany, GA | $29,150 |
Related jobs in Athens
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $50,330 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,060 |
| Cook | $33,960 |
| Food Server | $31,680 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,190 |
| Cook | $31,120 |
| Dishwasher | $27,870 |
| Host and Hostess | $25,840 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $24,960 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $24,220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Athens?
The median hourly pay in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area is $16.13 ($33,540 a year).
Do cooks make more in Athens than the national average?
No: $33,540 against $37,390 nationally, 10% less.
How does Athens compare with the rest of Georgia?
The median in Georgia is $35,940, so Athens pays 7% less.
Where does Athens rank for cook pay?
303 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Athens?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $40,180 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.