How much does a cook make in Birmingham?
$27,220a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Birmingham, AL metro area. That is $13.09 an hour or $2,268 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.09
- Vs. national median
- -27%
- Rank among cities
- 373 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $20,660Median: $27,220Highest 10%: $39,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,660 | $9.93 | |
| 25th | $20,810 | $10.00 | |
| Median | $27,220 | $13.09 | |
| 75th | $35,490 | $17.06 | |
| 90th | $39,600 | $19.04 |
Other cities in Alabama
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Columbus, GA | $31,940 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,700 |
| Auburn, AL | $29,680 |
| Mobile, AL | $28,580 |
| Huntsville, AL | $28,110 |
| Dothan, AL | $27,860 |
| Daphne, AL | $27,270 |
| Florence, AL | $27,210 |
| Anniston, AL | $23,960 |
| Decatur, AL | $23,650 |
| Montgomery, AL | $23,080 |
| Gadsden, AL | $22,480 |
Related jobs in Birmingham
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $62,760 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,570 |
| Cook | $34,340 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $30,840 |
| Food Server | $30,370 |
| Bartender | $30,010 |
| Dishwasher | $29,790 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,260 |
| Cook | $28,320 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $27,670 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Birmingham?
The median hourly pay in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $13.09 ($27,220 a year).
Do cooks make more in Birmingham than the national average?
No: $27,220 against $37,450 nationally, 27% less.
How does Birmingham compare with the rest of Alabama?
The median in Alabama is $27,120, so Birmingham pays 0% more.
Where does Birmingham rank for cook pay?
373 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $20,660 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.