Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $33,620 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Columbus earn between $22,630 and $29,250.
- $21K10th
- $23K25th
- $27KMedian
- $29K75th
- $34K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,460 | $2,205 | $12.72 |
| Median | $26,560 | $2,213 | $12.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,630 | $1,886 | $10.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,250 | $2,438 | $14.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Columbus earn 4% less than the Georgia average ($27,560) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $26,460 | $26,560 | $21,040 | $33,620 | 790 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $26,460, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $22,828 a year, or $1,902 a month and $878 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $22,828 | $1,902 |
| Working in AL | $22,392 | $1,866 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $26,460 buys what about $29,632 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 6th of 9 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($28,500).
- 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbus: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Columbus?
$12.72 an hour on average, and $12.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Columbus?
About $22,828 a year ($1,902 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,460.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.