Food Preparation Workers pay range in Augusta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,990 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Augusta earn between $27,820 and $35,380.
- $23K10th
- $28K25th
- $32KMedian
- $35K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,740 | $2,645 | $15.26 |
| Median | $32,090 | $2,674 | $15.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,820 | $2,318 | $13.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,380 | $2,948 | $17.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Augusta
On the average salary of $31,740, a single filer in Augusta takes home about $26,848 a year, or $2,237 a month and $1,033 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $27,350 | $2,279 |
| Working in GA | $26,848 | $2,237 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Augusta a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Augusta area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $31,740 buys what about $34,536 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Augusta ($45,990). A typical home costs $253,524, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Georgia cities
Augusta ranks 5th of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($35,390).
- Atlanta$35,390
- Gainesville$34,260
- Savannah$33,290
- Warner Robins$32,190
- Augusta$31,740
- Macon$31,440
- Athens$31,430
- Brunswick$31,410
- Albany$30,730
- Hinesville$30,590
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Augusta: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Augusta?
$15.26 an hour on average, and $15.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Augusta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Augusta?
About $26,848 a year ($2,237 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,740.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Augusta than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
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 35-2021; area Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC (12260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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