Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Birmingham, AL

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

Median annual salary $27,280 -25.2% vs national
Median hourly $13.11
10th percentile $20,040
90th percentile $37,590
Employed locally 2,360
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Birmingham, AL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,040
    25th
    $20,320
    50th (median)
    $27,280
    75th
    $33,340
    90th
    $37,590

    Birmingham economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,627 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 39% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 61% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $48,080
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $48,000
    Alaska $46,900
    Walla Walla, WA $45,940
    Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $45,740

    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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Birmingham?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Birmingham, AL is $13.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.04 or more per hour.

    Is Birmingham above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Birmingham, AL is 25.2% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Birmingham?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $20,040 per year in Birmingham, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,320.