Food Preparation Workers pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,960 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Birmingham earn between $22,830 and $36,850.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $29KMedian
- $37K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,230 | $2,519 | $14.53 |
| Median | $29,260 | $2,438 | $14.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,830 | $1,902 | $10.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,850 | $3,071 | $17.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Birmingham earn 6% more than the Alabama average ($28,460) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $30,230 | $29,260 | $21,830 | $37,960 | 4,320 |
| Alabama | $28,460 | $27,930 | $20,820 | $37,580 | 17,680 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $30,230, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $25,284 a year, or $2,107 a month and $972 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 Birmingham a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $30,230 buys what about $32,986 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 2nd of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($30,590).
- Huntsville$30,590
- Birmingham$30,230
- Daphne$28,970
- Decatur$28,690
- Tuscaloosa$28,600
- Auburn$28,560
- Mobile$28,400
- Florence$27,410
- Montgomery$27,200
- Anniston$26,570
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Birmingham?
$14.54 an hour on average, and $14.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $25,284 a year ($2,107 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,230. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Birmingham, AL (13820). 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 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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