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Columbus, GA-AL metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbus, GA?

In the Columbus, GA-AL metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $29,030 a year ($13.96 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 830 of these jobs there. That is 33% below the $43,540 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $20,740 and $35,910; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Alabama tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $24,376 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Columbus, GA at a glance

Median salary

$29,030$13.96 per hour · $2,419 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$20,740$9.97/hr
25th percentile$22,110$10.63/hr
75th percentile$33,450$16.08/hr
90th percentile$35,910$17.27/hr
Jobs in this metro830Location quotient 1.24 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here33% belowAll-jobs median $43,540
Against Alabama4% aboveStatewide median $27,930
Against the U.S.18% belowNational median $35,320

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $29,000 a year leaves after tax in AlabamaFederal tax, FICA and Alabama withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$14 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $29,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $29,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Alabama publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Alabama.

Food preparation worker salary in Columbus, GA after taxes

$29,030
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,030
Net 84%
Fed 4%
AL 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,376After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,031Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$938Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,304 / yr
Alabama state income tax$1,130 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,221 / yr
Customize deductions in full Alabama calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Columbus, GA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Columbus, GA-AL metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AL)
10th percentile$9.97/hr$1,728$20,740$17,941
25th percentile$10.63/hr$1,843$22,110$19,007
MedianMedian$13.96/hr$2,419$29,030$24,376
75th percentile$16.08/hr$2,788$33,450$27,723
90th percentile$17.27/hr$2,993$35,910$29,585

Is $29,030 a good salary in Columbus, GA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$59,336Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)89.310.7% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household48.9%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Alabama metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Columbus, GA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Columbus, GA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Columbus, GA-AL?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area was $29,030 in May 2025, about $2,419 a month or $13.96 an hour. Statewide, the Alabama median for this job is $27,930, so the metro pays 4% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Columbus, GA-AL?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Columbus, GA-AL was $13.96 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $9.97 an hour and one in ten earned more than $17.27.

How many food preparation workers work in Columbus, GA-AL?

BLS estimated 830 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 7.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.24 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Columbus, GA-AL?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Columbus, GA-AL run from $20,740 at the 10th percentile to $22,110 at the 25th, $33,450 at the 75th, and $35,910 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Columbus, GA-AL?

On a median gross salary of $29,030, an estimated $24,376 lands in net take-home pay per year ($938 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Alabama in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,654 (an effective rate of 16%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Columbus, GA-AL?

On the median annual salary of $29,030, gross monthly income is $2,419. After federal, FICA, and Alabama state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,031 per month (or $938 every two weeks).

Is $29,030 a good salary in Columbus, GA-AL?

At $29,030, the median salary for food preparation workers is 48.9% of the Columbus, GA-AL median household income ($59,336). It is 33% below the $43,540 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 89.3, so prices here run 10.7% below the U.S. average.