SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Birmingham, AL is $23,160 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,880 — a gap of 35.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Birmingham, AL is $23,160 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,880 — a gap of 35.5%. Half of workers earn between $22,210 and $30,840. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $21,500 and the ninetieth at $32,720.
Within the state, Huntsville records the highest median at $22,510. Of the 489 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 487th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,500 | −40.1% |
| 25th | $22,210 | −38.1% |
| Median (50th) | $23,160 | −35.5% |
| 75th | $30,840 | −14.0% |
| 90th | $32,720 | −8.8% |
| Mean | $25,950 | −27.7% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $22,510 | 320 | |
| 2 | Daphne | $22,330 | 190 | |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa | $22,110 | 150 | |
| 4 | Auburn | $21,860 | 120 | |
| 5 | Montgomery | $21,840 | — | |
| 6 | Florence | $21,480 | 90 | |
| 7 | Dothan | $21,250 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Birmingham run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $23,160 goes as far as $26,081 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 27.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$23,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,081US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $23,160 a year, 35.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,500 to $32,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $22,510.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Birmingham, AL?
The median annual wage is $23,160, or $11.14 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 $35,880, so pay in Birmingham, AL is 35.5% 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 Birmingham, AL earns more than $32,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,500 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 Huntsville, at $22,510 per year.
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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