Cooks, Restaurant salary in Alabama
Cooks, Restaurant in Alabama earn a median of $32,180 a year ($15.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,220 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $37,390. Alabama ranks 46th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 7.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,170 | $11.62 |
| 25th percentile | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Median | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| 75th percentile | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Average (mean) | $33,000 | $15.87 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,681.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,340.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,237.69 |
| Weekly | $618.85 |
| Hourly | $15.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $35,520 | 1,800 |
| Birmingham, AL | $34,340 | 4,020 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $33,850 | 1,600 |
| Montgomery, AL | $33,070 | 1,280 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,030 | 1,310 |
| Decatur, AL | $32,410 | 380 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,690 | 890 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $30,580 | 760 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $30,470 | 1,130 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $30,350 | 590 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $29,850 | 390 |
| Dothan, AL | $29,710 | 560 |
| Gadsden, AL | $28,790 | 400 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,930 | $13.43 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,120 | $13.04 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,330 | $10.74 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,700 | $11.40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Bartender | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,130 | $12.56 |
| Dishwasher | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,470 | $10.80 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,990 | $11.05 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Alabama?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Alabama is $32,180 a year, or $15.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Alabama?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Alabama earn at least $39,220 a year. The top 25% earn $36,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,170 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,930 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Alabama?
About 16,260 cooks, restaurant are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.