Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Auburn, AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Auburn-Opelika, AL

Median annual salary $66,550 +9.1% vs national
Median hourly $31.99
10th percentile $36,720
90th percentile $84,360
Employed locally 70
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Auburn, AL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,720
    25th
    $53,030
    50th (median)
    $66,550
    75th
    $78,000
    90th
    $84,360

    Auburn economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,991 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 113% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 13% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Alexandria, LA $80,290
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Salinas, CA $73,260
    Huntsville, AL $70,960
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $70,090
    Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $69,690

    Related occupations in Auburn, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,820
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,090
    Cooks, Fast Food $23,840
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $34,870
    Cooks, Restaurant $29,320
    Food Preparation Workers $27,340

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Auburn?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Auburn, AL is $31.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.02 or more per hour.

    Is Auburn above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Auburn, AL is 9.1% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Auburn?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $36,720 per year in Auburn, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $53,030.