SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Montgomery
Montgomery, AL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Montgomery, AL is $23,080 per year, substantially below the national median of $37,450 — a gap of 38.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Montgomery, AL is $23,080 per year, substantially below the national median of $37,450 — a gap of 38.4%. Pay ranges from under $18,670 at the tenth percentile to more than $37,530 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $21,080 to $30,930.
Employment stands at 750, or 4.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Tuscaloosa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $31,700. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 363rd of 373 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,670 | −50.1% |
| 25th | $21,080 | −43.7% |
| Median (50th) | $23,080 | −38.4% |
| 75th | $30,930 | −17.4% |
| 90th | $37,530 | +0.2% |
| Mean | $26,490 | −29.3% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuscaloosa | $31,700 | 470 | |
| 2 | Auburn | $29,680 | 260 | |
| 3 | Mobile | $28,580 | 630 | |
| 4 | Huntsville | $28,110 | 800 | |
| 5 | Dothan | $27,860 | 180 | |
| 6 | Daphne | $27,270 | 320 | |
| 7 | Birmingham | $27,220 | 2,460 | |
| 8 | Florence | $27,210 | 240 | |
| 9 | Anniston | $23,960 | 210 | |
| 10 | Decatur | $23,650 | 220 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montgomery run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $23,080 goes as far as $25,991 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 30.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$23,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,991US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $23,080 a year, 38.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $18,670 to $37,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 750 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Tuscaloosa, at $31,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Montgomery, AL?
The median annual wage is $23,080, or $11.10 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Montgomery, AL is 38.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Montgomery, AL earns more than $37,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $18,670 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Tuscaloosa, at $31,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 750 jobs in this occupation in Montgomery, AL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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