Cooks, Restaurant salary in Huntsville, AL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn a median of $35,520 a year ($17.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,660 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 10% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $32,180. There are 6.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $34,970, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Huntsville, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,610 | $13.28 |
| 25th percentile | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| Median | $35,520 | $17.08 |
| 75th percentile | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Average (mean) | $34,970 | $16.81 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,960 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,480 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,366.15 |
| Weekly | $683.08 |
| Hourly | $17.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,520 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $34,340 | 4,020 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $33,850 | 1,600 |
| Montgomery, AL | $33,070 | 1,280 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,030 | 1,310 |
| Decatur, AL | $32,410 | 380 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,690 | 890 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $30,580 | 760 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $30,470 | 1,130 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $30,350 | 590 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $29,850 | 390 |
| Dothan, AL | $29,710 | 560 |
| Gadsden, AL | $28,790 | 400 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Huntsville, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Huntsville, AL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Huntsville, AL metro area is $35,520 a year, or $17.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Huntsville, AL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn at least $44,660 a year. The top 25% earn $37,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Huntsville, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,610 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,650 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Huntsville, AL?
About 1,800 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Huntsville, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.