Cooks, Restaurant salary in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn a median of $33,990 a year ($16.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,720 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $35,940. There are 9.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,440, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,120 | $11.59 |
| 25th percentile | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Median | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| 75th percentile | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Average (mean) | $32,440 | $15.60 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,832.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,416.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,307.31 |
| Weekly | $653.65 |
| Hourly | $16.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $33,990 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,230 | 29,040 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,030 | 14,430 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,820 | 1,730 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,710 | 6,040 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Savannah, GA | $35,940 | 2,570 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,680 | 4,360 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $35,500 | 1,180 |
| Columbia, SC | $35,490 | 3,520 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,310 | 700 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,190 | 3,420 |
| Florence, SC | $34,550 | 730 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $34,480 | 760 |
| Rome, GA | $33,620 | 400 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,540 | 1,120 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $32,180 | 780 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,650 | 970 |
| Sumter, SC | $31,370 | 290 |
| Dalton, GA | $31,060 | 410 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $30,470 | 1,130 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,880 | 680 |
| Albany, GA | $29,150 | 470 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,780 | $12.88 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,970 | $16.81 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $33,990 a year, or $16.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn at least $40,720 a year. The top 25% earn $35,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,120 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,130 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About 2,200 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.