Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn a median of $34,970 a year ($16.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,620 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is about the same as the Georgia statewide median of $35,090. There are 1.9 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $34,870, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,600 | $11.83 |
| 25th percentile | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Median | $34,970 | $16.81 |
| 75th percentile | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Average (mean) | $34,870 | $16.77 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,914.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,457.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,345 |
| Weekly | $672.50 |
| Hourly | $16.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,970 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, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $38,920 | 280 |
| Gainesville, GA | $38,220 | 170 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,690 | 3,090 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,080 | 4,170 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,990 | 940 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $36,130 | 360 |
| Savannah, GA | $35,480 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,270 | 1,760 |
| Columbia, SC | $34,800 | 1,410 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $34,080 | 440 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,960 | 130 |
| Florence, SC | $33,540 | 390 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $33,530 | 100 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $33,410 | 940 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $31,940 | 350 |
| Rome, GA | $31,150 | 90 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,090 | 260 |
| Albany, GA | $30,430 | 140 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $30,050 | 80 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,710 | 90 |
| Sumter, SC | $28,880 | 150 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,780 | $12.88 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $18,390 | $8.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Bartender | $21,100 | $10.15 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,720 | $12.37 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,950 | $12.96 |
| Dishwasher | $28,630 | $13.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,590 | $14.71 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $68,070 | $32.72 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,230 | $12.61 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $34,970 a year, or $16.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn at least $44,620 a year. The top 25% earn $37,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,600 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $29,630 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About 430 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.