Cooks, Restaurant salary in Birmingham, AL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median of $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,590 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 7% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $32,180. There are 7.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,010, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Birmingham, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| 25th percentile | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Median | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 75th percentile | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Average (mean) | $34,010 | $16.35 |
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 | $2,861.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,430.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,320.77 |
| Weekly | $660.38 |
| Hourly | $16.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $35,520 | 1,800 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,220 | $13.09 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $23,160 | $11.14 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,020 | $12.99 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,670 | $13.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Bartender | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,320 | $11.21 |
| Dishwasher | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,840 | $14.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Birmingham, AL
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 Birmingham, AL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $34,340 a year, or $16.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Birmingham, AL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn at least $38,590 a year. The top 25% earn $36,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Birmingham, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,500 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,210 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Birmingham, AL?
About 4,020 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Birmingham, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.