Gainesville, GA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Gainesville, GA

In the Gainesville, GA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $36,100 ($17.36/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,300/year and the 90th was $43,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Georgia tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,133 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 96.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,100$17.36 per hour · $3,008 monthly
10th Percentile$24,300$11.68/hr base
25th Percentile$29,300$14.09/hr base
75th Percentile$38,000$18.27/hr base
90th Percentile$43,400$20.87/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,100
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,100
Net 83%
Fed 6%
GA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,133After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,511Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,159Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,152 / yr
Georgia state income tax$1,053 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,762 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Gainesville, GA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (GA)
10th Percentile$11.68/hr$2,025$24,300$21,157
25th Percentile$14.09/hr$2,442$29,300$25,009
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.36/hr$3,008$36,100$30,133
75th Percentile$18.27/hr$3,167$38,000$31,565
90th Percentile$20.87/hr$3,617$43,400$35,635

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Gainesville, GA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$80,901Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index96.83.2% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio44.6%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Georgia:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Gainesville, GA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Gainesville, GA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Gainesville, GA is $36,100, which equates to approximately $3,008 per month or $17.36 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Gainesville, GA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Gainesville, GA is $17.36 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.68/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.87/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Gainesville, GA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Gainesville, GA span from $24,300 at the 10th percentile to $29,300 at the 25th, $38,000 at the 75th, and $43,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Gainesville, GA?

On a median gross salary of $36,100, an estimated $30,133 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,159 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Georgia in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,967 (an effective rate of 16.5%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Gainesville, GA?

On the median annual salary of $36,100, gross monthly income is $3,008. After federal, FICA, and Georgia state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,511 per month (or $1,159 every two weeks).

Is $36,100 a good salary in Gainesville, GA?

At $36,100, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 44.6% of the Gainesville, GA median household income ($80,901). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 96.8, making regional consumer goods and services 3.2% cheaper than the U.S. average.