SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Augusta
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Augusta, GA comes to $68,070 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,470 by 9.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Augusta, GA comes to $68,070 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,470 by 9.0%. Pay ranges from under $42,450 at the tenth percentile to more than $90,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $51,510 to $75,590.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.76 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Atlanta records the highest median at $74,660. Of the 437 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 136th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,450 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $51,510 | −17.5% |
| Median (50th) | $68,070 | +9.0% |
| 75th | $75,590 | +21.0% |
| 90th | $90,010 | +44.1% |
| Mean | $67,300 | +7.7% |
Other metro areas in Georgia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta | $74,660 | 2,370 | |
| 2 | Gainesville | $70,780 | 40 | |
| 3 | Warner Robins | $67,530 | 40 | |
| 4 | Dalton | $66,090 | 40 | |
| 5 | Savannah | $63,700 | 260 | |
| 6 | Columbus | $62,920 | 90 | |
| 7 | Brunswick | $61,600 | 90 | |
| 8 | Albany | $59,540 | 40 | |
| 9 | Athens | $50,330 | 60 | |
| 10 | Macon | $50,080 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Augusta run 3.7% below the national average, so the median of $68,070 goes as far as $70,685 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$68,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,685US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $68,070 a year, 9.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,450 to $90,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlanta, at $74,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Augusta, GA?
The median annual wage is $68,070, or $32.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Augusta, GA is 9.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Augusta, GA earns more than $90,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,450 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Atlanta, at $74,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Augusta, GA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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