Cooks, Fast Food salary in Birmingham, AL
Cooks, Fast Food in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median of $28,320 a year ($13.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,650 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 2% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $27,870. There are 12 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Birmingham, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,800 | $11.44 |
| 25th percentile | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Median | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| 75th percentile | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| Average (mean) | $28,550 | $13.73 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,360 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,180 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,089.23 |
| Weekly | $544.62 |
| Hourly | $13.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,320 salary, see how much house you can afford in Alabama at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $29,310 | 2,950 |
| Decatur, AL | $28,480 | 920 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $28,030 | 1,500 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $28,000 | 1,080 |
| Mobile, AL | $27,700 | 1,970 |
| Montgomery, AL | $27,650 | 2,130 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $27,120 | 1,220 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $26,820 | 900 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $26,560 | 790 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $26,410 | 820 |
| Dothan, AL | $26,020 | 820 |
| Gadsden, AL | $25,900 | 630 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,220 | $13.09 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $23,160 | $11.14 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,020 | $12.99 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,670 | $13.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Bartender | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,320 | $11.21 |
| Dishwasher | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,840 | $14.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Birmingham, AL?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $28,320 a year, or $13.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Birmingham, AL?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn at least $34,650 a year. The top 25% earn $29,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Birmingham, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,800 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $26,410 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Birmingham, AL?
About 6,120 cooks, fast food are employed in the Birmingham, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.