Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Augusta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,010 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Augusta earn between $51,510 and $75,590.
- $42K10th
- $52K25th
- $68KMedian
- $76K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,300 | $5,608 | $32.36 |
| Median | $68,070 | $5,672 | $32.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,510 | $4,292 | $24.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,590 | $6,299 | $36.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Augusta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Augusta earn 4% less than the Georgia average ($70,450) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | $67,300 | $68,070 | $42,450 | $90,010 | 230 |
| Georgia | $70,450 | $66,230 | $43,300 | $100,970 | 3,680 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Augusta
On the average salary of $67,300, a single filer in Augusta takes home about $53,566 a year, or $4,464 a month and $2,060 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $54,029 | $4,502 |
| Working in GA | $53,566 | $4,464 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Augusta a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Augusta area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $67,300 buys what about $73,229 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Augusta ($45,990). A typical home costs $253,524, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Georgia cities
Augusta ranks 4th of 11 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($73,840).
- Atlanta$73,840
- Savannah$68,320
- Gainesville$67,820
- Augusta$67,300
- Brunswick$66,680
- Warner Robins$66,160
- Columbus$63,580
- Macon$60,950
- Athens$60,760
- Albany$59,840
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Augusta: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Augusta?
$32.36 an hour on average, and $32.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Augusta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Augusta?
About $53,566 a year ($4,464 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,300.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Augusta than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC (12260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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