Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Albany
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,790 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Albany earn between $44,000 and $70,870.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $60KMedian
- $71K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,840 | $4,987 | $28.77 |
| Median | $59,540 | $4,962 | $28.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,870 | $5,906 | $34.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Albany vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Albany earn 15% less than the Georgia average ($70,450) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $59,840 | $59,540 | $39,120 | $87,790 | 40 |
| Georgia | $70,450 | $66,230 | $43,300 | $100,970 | 3,680 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Albany
On the average salary of $59,840, a single filer in Albany takes home about $48,024 a year, or $4,002 a month and $1,847 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Albany a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albany area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $59,840 buys what about $68,257 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Albany ($43,620). A typical home costs $168,362, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Georgia cities
Albany ranks 10th of 11 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($73,840).
- Atlanta$73,840
- Savannah$68,320
- Gainesville$67,820
- Augusta$67,300
- Brunswick$66,680
- Warner Robins$66,160
- Columbus$63,580
- Macon$60,950
- Athens$60,760
- Albany$59,840
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Albany: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Albany?
$28.77 an hour on average, and $28.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Albany?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Albany?
About $48,024 a year ($4,002 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,840.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Albany than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 35-1011; area Albany, GA (10500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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