How much does a cook make in Birmingham?
$34,340a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Birmingham, AL metro area. That is $16.51 an hour or $2,862 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.51
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 290 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 4,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,500Median: $34,340Highest 10%: $38,590
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,500 | $13.70 | |
| 25th | $30,210 | $14.52 | |
| Median | $34,340 | $16.51 | |
| 75th | $36,620 | $17.61 | |
| 90th | $38,590 | $18.55 |
Other cities in Alabama
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Huntsville, AL | $35,520 |
| Daphne, AL | $33,850 |
| Montgomery, AL | $33,070 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,030 |
| Decatur, AL | $32,410 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,690 |
| Auburn, AL | $30,580 |
| Columbus, GA | $30,470 |
| Florence, AL | $30,350 |
| Anniston, AL | $29,850 |
| Dothan, AL | $29,710 |
| Gadsden, AL | $28,790 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Cook | $27,220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Birmingham?
The median hourly pay in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $16.51 ($34,340 a year).
Do cooks make more in Birmingham than the national average?
No: $34,340 against $37,390 nationally, 8% less.
How does Birmingham compare with the rest of Alabama?
The median in Alabama is $32,180, so Birmingham pays 7% more.
Where does Birmingham rank for cook pay?
290 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,590 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.