Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Auburn, AL

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

Median annual salary $29,320 -20.4% vs national
Median hourly $14.10
10th percentile $21,760
90th percentile $36,420
Employed locally 830
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Auburn, AL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,760
    25th
    $26,640
    50th (median)
    $29,320
    75th
    $35,270
    90th
    $36,420

    Auburn economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,991 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $45,020
    Salinas, CA $44,490
    California $44,290
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $44,000
    Vallejo, CA $43,820

    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
    Food Preparation Workers$27,340
    Bartenders$21,310

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Auburn?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Auburn, AL is $14.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.01 or more per hour.

    Is Auburn above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Auburn, AL is 20.4% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Auburn?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $21,760 per year in Auburn, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,640.