Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,070 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Columbus earn between $28,510 and $36,050.
- $22K10th
- $29K25th
- $32KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,250 | $2,688 | $15.50 |
| Median | $31,940 | $2,662 | $15.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,510 | $2,376 | $13.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,050 | $3,004 | $17.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Columbus earn 9% less than the Georgia average ($35,380) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $32,250 | $31,940 | $21,830 | $39,070 | 350 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $32,250, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $27,232 a year, or $2,269 a month and $1,047 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 | $27,232 | $2,269 |
| Working in AL | $26,814 | $2,234 |
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, institution and cafeteria? 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 $32,250 buys what about $36,116 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 9th 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 Columbus: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Columbus?
$15.51 an hour on average, and $15.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Columbus?
About $27,232 a year ($2,269 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,250.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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