Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Decatur, AL

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

Median annual salary $30,790 -16.4% vs national
Median hourly $14.80
10th percentile $22,880
90th percentile $37,880
Employed locally 460
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Decatur, AL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,880
    25th
    $27,860
    50th (median)
    $30,790
    75th
    $36,030
    90th
    $37,880

    Decatur economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,987 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 52% 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 Decatur, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $25,520
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,360
    Waiters and Waitresses $21,260
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,850
    Food Preparation Workers $23,730
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $23,870

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Decatur, AL is $14.80, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.33 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Decatur, AL is 16.4% 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 Decatur?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,880 per year in Decatur, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,860.