Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Median annual salary $26,560 -11.9% vs national
Median hourly $12.77
10th percentile $22,160
90th percentile $32,900
Employed locally 1,340
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,160
    25th
    $23,540
    50th (median)
    $26,560
    75th
    $28,820
    90th
    $32,900

    Tuscaloosa economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $59,975 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Vallejo, CA $39,110
    Salinas, CA $37,960
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $37,910
    Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $36,900

    Related occupations in Tuscaloosa, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,850
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,740
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,600
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,340
    Food Preparation Workers $28,800
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $29,940

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Tuscaloosa?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Tuscaloosa, AL is $12.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.06 or more per hour.

    Is Tuscaloosa above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Tuscaloosa, AL is 11.9% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Tuscaloosa?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,160 per year in Tuscaloosa, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,540.