How much does a cook make in Birmingham?
$23,160a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Birmingham, AL metro area. That is $11.13 an hour or $1,930 a month.
- Hourly
- $11.13
- Vs. national median
- -35%
- Rank among cities
- 214 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,500Median: $23,160Highest 10%: $32,720
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,500 | $10.34 | |
| 25th | $22,210 | $10.68 | |
| Median | $23,160 | $11.13 | |
| 75th | $30,840 | $14.83 | |
| 90th | $32,720 | $15.73 |
Other cities in Alabama
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Huntsville, AL | $22,510 |
| Daphne, AL | $22,330 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $22,110 |
| Auburn, AL | $21,860 |
| Montgomery, AL | $21,840 |
| Florence, AL | $21,480 |
| Dothan, AL | $21,250 |
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 $11.13 ($23,160 a year).
Do cooks make more in Birmingham than the national average?
No: $23,160 against $35,880 nationally, 35% less.
How does Birmingham compare with the rest of Alabama?
The median in Alabama is $22,330, so Birmingham pays 4% more.
Where does Birmingham rank for cook pay?
214 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $32,720 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.