SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Decatur
Decatur, AL · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Decatur, AL is $28,180 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 20.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Decatur, AL is $28,180 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 20.2%. Half of workers earn between $21,910 and $35,480. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $21,500 and the ninetieth at $37,320.
The area has 430 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.23 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Huntsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $29,850. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 229th of 241 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,500 | −39.1% |
| 25th | $21,910 | −38.0% |
| Median (50th) | $28,180 | −20.2% |
| 75th | $35,480 | +0.5% |
| 90th | $37,320 | +5.7% |
| Mean | $28,690 | −18.8% |
Other 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 | Montgomery | $27,420 | 1,470 | |
| 8 | Florence | $27,410 | 540 | |
| 9 | Anniston | $27,230 | 430 | |
| 10 | Dothan | $26,580 | 650 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Decatur run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $28,180 goes as far as $31,734 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,734US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,180 a year, 20.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,500 to $37,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 430 jobs in 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 Decatur, AL?
The median annual wage is $28,180, or $13.55 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 Decatur, AL is 20.2% 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 Decatur, AL earns more than $37,320 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 $29,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 430 jobs in this occupation in Decatur, 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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