Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Montgomery
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,010 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Montgomery earn between $51,370 and $75,210.
- $41K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $75K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,220 | $5,352 | $30.88 |
| Median | $61,330 | $5,111 | $29.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,370 | $4,281 | $24.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,210 | $6,268 | $36.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Montgomery vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Montgomery earn about the same as the Alabama average ($63,720) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | $64,220 | $61,330 | $40,840 | $82,010 | 90 |
| Alabama | $63,720 | $62,400 | $39,940 | $85,990 | 1,000 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Montgomery
On the average salary of $64,220, a single filer in Montgomery takes home about $51,086 a year, or $4,257 a month and $1,965 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Montgomery a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Montgomery area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.7), so the average $64,220 buys what about $71,609 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Montgomery ($44,950). A typical home costs $214,099, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Alabama cities
Montgomery ranks 4th of 7 Alabama metro areas for this job; Birmingham pays the most ($68,260).
- Birmingham$68,260
- Huntsville$66,200
- Tuscaloosa$65,240
- Montgomery$64,220
- Auburn$63,620
- Mobile$62,980
- Daphne$62,480
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Montgomery: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Montgomery?
$30.87 an hour on average, and $29.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Montgomery?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Montgomery?
About $51,086 a year ($4,257 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,220. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Montgomery than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Montgomery, AL (33860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.41, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.41).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.