Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Birmingham, AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Birmingham, AL

Median annual salary $62,800 +3% vs national
Median hourly $30.19
10th percentile $40,300
90th percentile $94,580
Employed locally 260
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Birmingham, AL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,300
    25th
    $56,450
    50th (median)
    $62,800
    75th
    $78,390
    90th
    $94,580

    Birmingham economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,627 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 90% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 10% below 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 Birmingham, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,430
    Waiters and Waitresses$21,930
    Cooks, Fast Food$27,650
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,030
    Cooks, Restaurant$31,200
    Food Preparation Workers$27,850

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Birmingham, AL is $30.19, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $43.79 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Birmingham, AL is 3% 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 Birmingham?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,300 per year in Birmingham, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $56,450.