Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Georgia
$35,380avg. a year
$17.01 an hour · 8,220 employed
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Georgia earn an average of $35,380 a year. That is $3,430 (9%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810. The best-paying metro area is Gainesville, GA at $38,690.
$35,090Median pay
$17.01Average hourly
+33%Avg. pay since 2020
#38Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Georgia metro areas
Average pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria by metro area. Swipe to see all 13.
1170 jobs
Gainesville, GA
$38,690
$18.60 an hour
24,170 jobs
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
$37,740
$18.14 an hour
3280 jobs
Savannah, GA
$34,910
$16.78 an hour
4430 jobs
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
$34,870
$16.77 an hour
5100 jobs
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA
$34,830
$16.74 an hour
6940 jobs
Chattanooga, TN-GA
$34,760
$16.71 an hour
7130 jobs
Athens-Clarke County, GA
$33,170
$15.95 an hour
890 jobs
Rome, GA
$33,060
$15.90 an hour
9260 jobs
Macon-Bibb County, GA
$32,870
$15.81 an hour
10350 jobs
Columbus, GA-AL
$32,250
$15.51 an hour
11140 jobs
Albany, GA
$32,110
$15.44 an hour
1280 jobs
Warner Robins, GA
$31,680
$15.23 an hour
1390 jobs
Valdosta, GA
$30,740
$14.78 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Georgia, charted
Pay over time
Georgia, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Georgia cooks, institution and cafeteria work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Georgia highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $35k$35k–$39k$39k–$44k$44k+Georgia
Georgia vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Georgia | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Florida | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| North Carolina | $36,130 | $17.37 |
| Tennessee | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| South Carolina | $33,270 | $15.99 |
| Alabama | $27,870 | $13.40 |
Related jobs in Georgia
Average pay, Georgia, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Georgia?
The average is $35,380 a year, and the median is $35,090. That is $3,430 (9%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810.
What is the hourly wage in Georgia?
$17.01 an hour on average; the median is $16.87.
Where in Georgia do they earn the most?
Gainesville, GA ($38,690), followed by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($37,740). The lowest average among 13 metro areas with data is Valdosta, GA ($30,740).
How does Georgia rank?
Georgia ranks #38 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national cooks, institution and cafeteria page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.