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Birmingham, AL metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Birmingham, AL?

In the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $29,260 a year ($14.07 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 4,320 of these jobs there. That is 39% below the $47,770 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $21,830 and $37,960; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Alabama tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $24,550 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Birmingham, AL at a glance

Median salary

$29,260$14.07 per hour · $2,438 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$21,830$10.50/hr
25th percentile$22,830$10.98/hr
75th percentile$36,850$17.72/hr
90th percentile$37,960$18.25/hr
Jobs in this metro4,320Location quotient 1.44 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here39% belowAll-jobs median $47,770
Against Alabama5% aboveStatewide median $27,930
Against the U.S.17% belowNational median $35,320

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $29,000 a year leaves after tax in AlabamaFederal tax, FICA and Alabama withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$14 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $29,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $29,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Alabama publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Alabama.

Food preparation worker salary in Birmingham, AL after taxes

$29,260
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,260
Net 84%
Fed 5%
AL 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,550After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,046Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$944Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,331 / yr
Alabama state income tax$1,140 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,238 / yr
Customize deductions in full Alabama calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Birmingham, AL, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Birmingham, AL metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Birmingham, AL metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AL)
10th percentile$10.50/hr$1,819$21,830$18,789
25th percentile$10.98/hr$1,903$22,830$19,568
MedianMedian$14.07/hr$2,438$29,260$24,550
75th percentile$17.72/hr$3,071$36,850$30,299
90th percentile$18.25/hr$3,163$37,960$31,142

Is $29,260 a good salary in Birmingham, AL?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$71,498Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)91.68.4% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household40.9%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Alabama metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Birmingham, AL. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Birmingham, AL: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Birmingham, AL?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Birmingham, AL metro area was $29,260 in May 2025, about $2,438 a month or $14.07 an hour. Statewide, the Alabama median for this job is $27,930, so the metro pays 5% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Birmingham, AL?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Birmingham, AL was $14.07 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.50 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.25.

How many food preparation workers work in Birmingham, AL?

BLS estimated 4,320 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 8.3 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.44 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Birmingham, AL?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Birmingham, AL run from $21,830 at the 10th percentile to $22,830 at the 25th, $36,850 at the 75th, and $37,960 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Birmingham, AL?

On a median gross salary of $29,260, an estimated $24,550 lands in net take-home pay per year ($944 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Alabama in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,710 (an effective rate of 16.1%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Birmingham, AL?

On the median annual salary of $29,260, gross monthly income is $2,438. After federal, FICA, and Alabama state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,046 per month (or $944 every two weeks).

Is $29,260 a good salary in Birmingham, AL?

At $29,260, the median salary for food preparation workers is 40.9% of the Birmingham, AL median household income ($71,498). It is 39% below the $47,770 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 91.6, so prices here run 8.4% below the U.S. average.