SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Alabama
Alabama · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Alabama is $27,930 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 20.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Alabama is $27,930 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 20.9%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $22,000 and $34,490. The lowest tenth earn under $20,820, while the highest tenth earn more than $37,580.
The area has 17,680 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 8.4 of every thousand jobs. Alabama ranks number 47th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Huntsville records the highest median at $29,850. Of the 690 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 662nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,820 | −41.1% |
| 25th | $22,000 | −37.7% |
| Median (50th) | $27,930 | −20.9% |
| 75th | $34,490 | −2.3% |
| 90th | $37,580 | +6.4% |
| Mean | $28,460 | −19.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $29,850 | — | |
| 2 | Birmingham | $29,260 | 4,320 | |
| 3 | Auburn | $28,770 | 730 | |
| 4 | Tuscaloosa | $28,530 | 870 | |
| 5 | Daphne | $28,490 | 1,190 | |
| 6 | Mobile | $28,390 | 1,430 | |
| 7 | Decatur | $28,180 | 430 | |
| 8 | Montgomery | $27,420 | 1,470 | |
| 9 | Florence | $27,410 | 540 | |
| 10 | Anniston | $27,230 | 430 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $27,930 goes as far as $31,453 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,453US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,930 a year, 20.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,820 to $37,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 17,680 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 47th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $29,850.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $27,930, or $13.43 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 $35,320, so pay in Alabama is 20.9% 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 Alabama earns more than $37,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,820 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 $29,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 17,680 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. 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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