Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Alabama
Cooks, Fast Foods in Alabama make a median of $26,690 a year, or about $12.83 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $33K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $27K get you in Alabama?
About cooks, fast foods
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $33K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $28K | +5% | 2,990 |
| Birmingham | $28K | +4% | 5,590 |
| Decatur | $27K | +3% | 760 |
| Tuscaloosa | $27K | -0% | 1,340 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $26K | -2% | 1,060 |
| Mobile | $26K | -3% | 1,740 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $24K | -11% | 920 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $24K | -11% | 1,200 |
| Montgomery | $24K | -11% | 2,020 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $23K | -12% | 820 |
| Dothan | $23K | -14% | 790 |
| Gadsden | $22K | -16% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in Alabama?
The median is $26,690 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,830, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $32,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,859/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 58.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, fast food salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, fast food salary is worth about $30,206 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, fast foods get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.