Cooks, Short Order pay range in Athens
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,590 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Athens earn between $26,410 and $36,090.
- $19K10th
- $26K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,720 | $2,560 | $14.77 |
| Median | $31,120 | $2,593 | $14.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,410 | $2,201 | $12.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Athens vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Athens earn 5% more than the Georgia average ($29,370) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $30,720 | $31,120 | $18,910 | $36,590 | 100 |
| Georgia | $29,370 | $26,870 | $21,430 | $41,010 | 3,870 |
| United States | $36,120 | $35,880 | $23,440 | $46,460 | 138,650 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Short Order salary after taxes in Athens
On the average salary of $30,720, a single filer in Athens takes home about $26,079 a year, or $2,173 a month and $1,003 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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, short order? 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 $30,720 buys what about $32,911 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 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Georgia cities
Athens ranks 1st of 5 Georgia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Athens$30,720
- Hinesville$30,520
- Savannah$30,090
- Augusta$29,260
- Warner Robins$24,620
Highest-paying cities for cooks, short order
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,560).
- Kahului, HI$52,560
- Denver, CO$51,530
- Seattle, WA$49,560
- Corvallis, OR$48,580
- San Francisco, CA$46,250
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Short Order salary in Athens: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Athens?
$14.77 an hour on average, and $14.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Athens?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Athens?
About $26,079 a year ($2,173 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,720.
Do cooks, short order earn more in Athens than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,120).
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 35-2015; area Athens-Clarke County, GA (12020). 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.