How much does a food preparation worker make in Birmingham?
$29,260a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Birmingham, AL metro area. That is $14.07 an hour or $2,438 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.07
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 299 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 4,320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,830Median: $29,260Highest 10%: $37,960
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,830 | $10.50 | |
| 25th | $22,830 | $10.98 | |
| Median | $29,260 | $14.07 | |
| 75th | $36,850 | $17.72 | |
| 90th | $37,960 | $18.25 |
Other cities in Alabama
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Huntsville, AL | $29,850 |
| Columbus, GA | $29,030 |
| Auburn, AL | $28,770 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $28,530 |
| Daphne, AL | $28,490 |
| Mobile, AL | $28,390 |
| Decatur, AL | $28,180 |
| Montgomery, AL | $27,420 |
| Florence, AL | $27,410 |
| Anniston, AL | $27,230 |
| Dothan, AL | $26,580 |
| Gadsden, AL | $26,050 |
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 |
| Cook | $28,320 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $27,670 |
| Cook | $27,220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Birmingham?
The median hourly pay in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $14.07 ($29,260 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Birmingham than the national average?
No: $29,260 against $35,320 nationally, 17% less.
How does Birmingham compare with the rest of Alabama?
The median in Alabama is $27,930, so Birmingham pays 5% more.
Where does Birmingham rank for food preparation worker pay?
299 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,830 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,960 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.