Food Preparation Workers pay range in Atlanta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,010 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Atlanta earn between $30,940 and $38,010.
- $28K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,390 | $2,949 | $17.01 |
| Median | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,940 | $2,578 | $14.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,010 | $3,168 | $18.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Atlanta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Atlanta earn 4% more than the Georgia average ($33,970) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $35,390 | $36,090 | $27,910 | $42,010 | 17,060 |
| Georgia | $33,970 | $35,250 | $24,840 | $40,390 | 26,450 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Atlanta
On the average salary of $35,390, a single filer in Atlanta takes home about $29,598 a year, or $2,467 a month and $1,138 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 Atlanta a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $35,390 buys what about $35,369 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Atlanta ($51,170). A typical home costs $382,938, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Georgia cities
Atlanta ranks 1st of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Atlanta$35,390
- Gainesville$34,260
- Savannah$33,290
- Warner Robins$32,190
- Augusta$31,740
- Macon$31,440
- Athens$31,430
- Brunswick$31,410
- Albany$30,730
- Hinesville$30,590
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Atlanta: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Atlanta?
$17.01 an hour on average, and $17.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Atlanta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Atlanta?
About $29,598 a year ($2,467 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,390.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Atlanta than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (12060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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