Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Valdosta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,310 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Valdosta earn between $27,730 and $34,080.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $34K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,740 | $2,562 | $14.78 |
| Median | $29,710 | $2,476 | $14.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,730 | $2,311 | $13.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,080 | $2,840 | $16.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Valdosta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Valdosta earn 13% less than the Georgia average ($35,380) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta | $30,740 | $29,710 | $23,900 | $38,310 | 90 |
| Georgia | $35,380 | $35,090 | $28,220 | $44,540 | 8,220 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Valdosta
On the average salary of $30,740, a single filer in Valdosta takes home about $26,094 a year, or $2,175 a month and $1,004 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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, institution and cafeteria? 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 $30,740 buys what about $34,825 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Valdosta ($39,110). A typical home costs $226,628, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Georgia cities
Valdosta ranks 12th of 12 Georgia metro areas for this job; Gainesville pays the most ($38,690).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Valdosta: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Valdosta?
$14.78 an hour on average, and $14.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Valdosta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Valdosta?
About $26,094 a year ($2,175 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,740.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Valdosta than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Valdosta, GA (46660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.