Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Auburn-Opelika, AL
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area earn a median of $68,830 a year ($33.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,160 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 10% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $62,400. There are 0.59 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $63,620, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Auburn-Opelika, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| 25th percentile | $50,300 | $24.18 |
| Median | $68,830 | $33.09 |
| 75th percentile | $71,820 | $34.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,160 | $39.02 |
| Average (mean) | $63,620 | $30.59 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,735.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,867.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,647.31 |
| Weekly | $1,323.65 |
| Hourly | $33.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $68,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in Alabama at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $68,830 | 90 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $65,900 | 70 |
| Huntsville, AL | $64,000 | 90 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $62,920 | 90 |
| Birmingham, AL | $62,760 | 240 |
| Montgomery, AL | $61,330 | 90 |
| Mobile, AL | $58,130 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $24,600 | $11.83 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,470 | $12.73 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,120 | $13.04 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,770 | $13.83 |
| Bartender | $26,210 | $12.60 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,680 | $14.27 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,520 | $11.31 |
| Dishwasher | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $20,900 | $10.05 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,860 | $10.51 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Auburn-Opelika, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area is $68,830 a year, or $33.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area earn at least $81,160 a year. The top 25% earn $71,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,480 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $50,300 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
About 40 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.