Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,190 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Decatur earn between $20,810 and $29,560.
- $19K10th
- $21K25th
- $24KMedian
- $30K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,040 | $2,170 | $12.52 |
| Median | $23,650 | $1,971 | $11.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $20,810 | $1,734 | $10.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,560 | $2,463 | $14.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Decatur earn 7% less than the Alabama average ($27,870) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $26,040 | $23,650 | $18,710 | $37,190 | 220 |
| Alabama | $27,870 | $27,120 | $20,040 | $37,960 | 8,780 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Decatur
On the average salary of $26,040, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $22,065 a year, or $1,839 a month and $849 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 Decatur a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $26,040 buys what about $29,858 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 10th of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Tuscaloosa pays the most ($31,620).
- Tuscaloosa$31,620
- Auburn$29,530
- Huntsville$29,130
- Birmingham$28,980
- Mobile$28,410
- Daphne$27,880
- Dothan$26,790
- Montgomery$26,490
- Florence$26,410
- Decatur$26,040
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Decatur: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Decatur?
$12.52 an hour on average, and $11.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $20,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Decatur?
About $22,065 a year ($1,839 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,040. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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