How much does a cook make in Birmingham?
$28,320a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Birmingham, AL metro area. That is $13.62 an hour or $2,360 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.62
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 193 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 6,120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,800Median: $28,320Highest 10%: $34,650
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,800 | $11.44 | |
| 25th | $26,410 | $12.70 | |
| Median | $28,320 | $13.62 | |
| 75th | $29,710 | $14.28 | |
| 90th | $34,650 | $16.66 |
Other cities in Alabama
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Huntsville, AL | $29,310 |
| Decatur, AL | $28,480 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $28,030 |
| Daphne, AL | $28,000 |
| Mobile, AL | $27,700 |
| Montgomery, AL | $27,650 |
| Auburn, AL | $27,120 |
| Florence, AL | $26,820 |
| Columbus, GA | $26,560 |
| Anniston, AL | $26,410 |
| Dothan, AL | $26,020 |
| Gadsden, AL | $25,900 |
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 |
| 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 $13.62 ($28,320 a year).
Do cooks make more in Birmingham than the national average?
No: $28,320 against $30,890 nationally, 8% less.
How does Birmingham compare with the rest of Alabama?
The median in Alabama is $27,870, so Birmingham pays 2% more.
Where does Birmingham rank for cook pay?
193 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,800 or less a year; the top 10% make $34,650 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.