Cooks, Restaurant pay in Alabama
In Alabama, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $15.47 an hour ($32,180 a year). About 16,260 people work in this job there.
That is 14% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). Alabama ranks 46th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Alabama
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $11.62 | $24,170 |
| 25% of workers | $13.91 | $28,930 |
| Half of workers (median) | $15.47 | $32,180 |
| 75% of workers | $17.41 | $36,220 |
| 90% of workers | $18.86 | $39,220 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Alabama metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $35,520 | 1,800 |
| Birmingham | $34,340 | 4,020 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $33,850 | 1,600 |
| Montgomery | $33,070 | 1,280 |
| Mobile | $33,030 | 1,310 |
| Decatur | $32,410 | 380 |
| Tuscaloosa | $30,690 | 890 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $30,580 | 760 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $30,350 | 590 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $29,850 | 390 |
| Dothan | $29,710 | 560 |
| Gadsden | $28,790 | 400 |
Alabama unemployment rate: 3.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,870 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $27,930 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,120 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,500 |
| Bakers | $34,030 |
| Food Batchmakers | $36,980 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,400 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.