Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Athens
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,820 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Athens earn between $29,280 and $36,670.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,170 | $2,764 | $15.95 |
| Median | $33,960 | $2,830 | $16.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,280 | $2,440 | $14.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,670 | $3,056 | $17.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Athens vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Athens earn 6% less than the Georgia average ($35,380) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $33,170 | $33,960 | $27,980 | $38,820 | 130 |
| Georgia | $35,380 | $35,090 | $28,220 | $44,540 | 8,220 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Athens
On the average salary of $33,170, a single filer in Athens takes home about $27,925 a year, or $2,327 a month and $1,074 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Athens a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Athens area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.3), so the average $33,170 buys what about $35,536 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Athens ($41,220). A typical home costs $373,118, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Georgia cities
Athens ranks 6th of 12 Georgia metro areas for this job; Gainesville pays the most ($38,690).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Athens: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Athens?
$15.95 an hour on average, and $16.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Athens?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Athens?
About $27,925 a year ($2,327 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,170.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Athens than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Athens-Clarke County, GA (12020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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