Cooks, Fast Food salary in Huntsville, AL
Cooks, Fast Food in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn a median of $29,310 a year ($14.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,100 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 5% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $27,870. There are 11 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $29,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Huntsville, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,650 | $11.37 |
| 25th percentile | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| Median | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| 75th percentile | $33,600 | $16.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,100 | $16.87 |
| Average (mean) | $29,870 | $14.36 |
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 | $2,442.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,221.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,127.31 |
| Weekly | $563.65 |
| Hourly | $14.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,310 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $28,480 | 920 |
| Birmingham, AL | $28,320 | 6,120 |
| 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 Huntsville, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,520 | $17.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,510 | $10.82 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,850 | $14.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,180 | $13.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Bartender | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| Dishwasher | $30,720 | $14.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,000 | $30.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, AL?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Huntsville, AL metro area is $29,310 a year, or $14.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Huntsville, AL?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn at least $35,100 a year. The top 25% earn $33,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Huntsville, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,650 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,160 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Huntsville, AL?
About 2,950 cooks, fast food are employed in the Huntsville, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.