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Decatur, AL metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Decatur, AL metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $28,180 a year ($13.55 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 430 of these jobs there. That is 39% below the $46,280 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $21,500 and $37,320; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Alabama tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $23,726 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Decatur, AL at a glance

Median salary

$28,180$13.55 per hour · $2,348 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$21,500$10.34/hr
25th percentile$21,910$10.53/hr
75th percentile$35,480$17.06/hr
90th percentile$37,320$17.94/hr
Jobs in this metro430Location quotient 1.23 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here39% belowAll-jobs median $46,280
Against Alabama1% aboveStatewide median $27,930
Against the U.S.20% belowNational median $35,320

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

Take-home payWhat $28,000 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 $28,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $28,000 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 Decatur, AL after taxes

$28,180
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$28,180
Net 84%
Fed 4%
AL 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,726After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,977Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$913Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,208 / yr
Alabama state income tax$1,090 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,156 / yr
Customize deductions in full Alabama calculator

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

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Decatur, AL metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AL)
10th percentile$10.34/hr$1,792$21,500$18,532
25th percentile$10.53/hr$1,826$21,910$18,851
MedianMedian$13.55/hr$2,348$28,180$23,726
75th percentile$17.06/hr$2,957$35,480$29,259
90th percentile$17.94/hr$3,110$37,320$30,656

Is $28,180 a good salary in Decatur, 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$68,116Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)87.212.8% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household41.4%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 Decatur, AL. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Decatur, AL: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Decatur, AL metro area was $28,180 in May 2025, about $2,348 a month or $13.55 an hour. Statewide, the Alabama median for this job is $27,930, so the metro pays 1% above the state.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Decatur, AL was $13.55 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.34 an hour and one in ten earned more than $17.94.

How many food preparation workers work in Decatur, AL?

BLS estimated 430 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 7.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.23 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Decatur, AL run from $21,500 at the 10th percentile to $21,910 at the 25th, $35,480 at the 75th, and $37,320 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $28,180, an estimated $23,726 lands in net take-home pay per year ($913 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Alabama in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,454 (an effective rate of 15.8%).

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

On the median annual salary of $28,180, gross monthly income is $2,348. After federal, FICA, and Alabama state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,977 per month (or $913 every two weeks).

Is $28,180 a good salary in Decatur, AL?

At $28,180, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.4% of the Decatur, AL median household income ($68,116). It is 39% below the $46,280 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 87.2, so prices here run 12.8% below the U.S. average.