Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Atlanta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,850 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Atlanta earn between $23,350 and $34,320.
- $21K10th
- $23K25th
- $27KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,500 | $2,375 | $13.70 |
| Median | $26,940 | $2,245 | $12.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,350 | $1,946 | $11.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Atlanta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Atlanta earn 3% more than the Georgia average ($27,560) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $28,500 | $26,940 | $20,800 | $36,850 | 7,100 |
| Georgia | $27,560 | $26,940 | $20,800 | $36,810 | 12,940 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Atlanta
On the average salary of $28,500, a single filer in Atlanta takes home about $24,406 a year, or $2,034 a month and $939 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Atlanta a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Atlanta area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.1), so the average $28,500 buys what about $28,483 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Atlanta ($51,170). A typical home costs $382,938, or 13.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Georgia cities
Atlanta ranks 1st of 9 Georgia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Atlanta$28,500
- Augusta$28,210
- Gainesville$28,170
- Brunswick$27,100
- Warner Robins$26,940
- Columbus$26,460
- Albany$25,950
- Macon$25,580
- Valdosta$24,950
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Atlanta: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Atlanta?
$13.70 an hour on average, and $12.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Atlanta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Atlanta?
About $24,406 a year ($2,034 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,500.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Atlanta than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (12060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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