Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Cooks, Fast Food in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $26,560 a year ($12.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,620 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 1% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $26,940. There are 6.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $26,460, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,040 | $10.12 |
| 25th percentile | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| Median | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| 75th percentile | $29,250 | $14.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Average (mean) | $26,460 | $12.72 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,213.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,106.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,021.54 |
| Weekly | $510.77 |
| Hourly | $12.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in Georgia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $29,310 | 2,950 |
| Decatur, AL | $28,480 | 920 |
| Birmingham, AL | $28,320 | 6,120 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $28,030 | 1,500 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $28,000 | 1,080 |
| Gainesville, GA | $27,890 | 290 |
| Mobile, AL | $27,700 | 1,970 |
| Montgomery, AL | $27,650 | 2,130 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $27,120 | 1,220 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $26,940 | 7,100 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $26,920 | 280 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,890 | 940 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $26,820 | 900 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,780 | 880 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $26,750 | 180 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $26,410 | 820 |
| Dothan, AL | $26,020 | 820 |
| Gadsden, AL | $25,900 | 630 |
| Valdosta, GA | $23,640 | 270 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $23,140 | 380 |
| Albany, GA | $22,550 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Bartender | $20,940 | $10.07 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,740 | $12.38 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,890 | $11.96 |
| Dishwasher | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,370 | $12.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $26,560 a year, or $12.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $33,620 a year. The top 25% earn $29,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,040 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,630 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 790 cooks, fast food are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.