Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Valdosta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,000 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Valdosta earn between $21,360 and $27,040.
- $18K10th
- $21K25th
- $24KMedian
- $27K75th
- $34K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $24,950 | $2,079 | $12.00 |
| Median | $23,640 | $1,970 | $11.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,360 | $1,780 | $10.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $27,040 | $2,253 | $13.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Valdosta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Valdosta earn 9% less than the Georgia average ($27,560) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta | $24,950 | $23,640 | $18,040 | $34,000 | 270 |
| Georgia | $27,560 | $26,940 | $20,800 | $36,810 | 12,940 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Valdosta
On the average salary of $24,950, a single filer in Valdosta takes home about $21,660 a year, or $1,805 a month and $833 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Valdosta a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Valdosta area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $24,950 buys what about $28,265 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Valdosta ($39,110). A typical home costs $226,628, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Georgia cities
Valdosta ranks 9th of 9 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($28,500).
- Atlanta$28,500
- Augusta$28,210
- Gainesville$28,170
- Brunswick$27,100
- Warner Robins$26,940
- Columbus$26,460
- Albany$25,950
- Macon$25,580
- Valdosta$24,950
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Valdosta: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Valdosta?
$11.99 an hour on average, and $11.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Valdosta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Valdosta?
About $21,660 a year ($1,805 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $24,950.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Valdosta than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Valdosta, GA (46660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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