SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Huntsville, AL is $29,850 per year, 15.5% below the national median of $35,320.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Huntsville, AL is $29,850 per year, 15.5% below the national median of $35,320. Pay ranges from under $22,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $38,370 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $23,060 to $36,740.
Birmingham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $29,260. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 362nd of 389 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,220 | −37.1% |
| 25th | $23,060 | −34.7% |
| Median (50th) | $29,850 | −15.5% |
| 75th | $36,740 | +4.0% |
| 90th | $38,370 | +8.6% |
| Mean | $30,590 | −13.4% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | $29,260 | 4,320 | |
| 2 | Auburn | $28,770 | 730 | |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa | $28,530 | 870 | |
| 4 | Daphne | $28,490 | 1,190 | |
| 5 | Mobile | $28,390 | 1,430 | |
| 6 | Decatur | $28,180 | 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 Huntsville run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $29,850 goes as far as $33,615 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,615US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,850 a year, 15.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,220 to $38,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Birmingham, at $29,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Huntsville, AL?
The median annual wage is $29,850, or $14.35 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 Huntsville, AL is 15.5% 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 Huntsville, AL earns more than $38,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,220 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 Birmingham, at $29,260 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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