Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Alabama
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Alabama (2026)
$13.04 per hour · take-home ≈ $22,777/year ($1,898/month) for a single filer
Alabama ranks 50th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 29% below the national average. Of the 8,780 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Alabama, the typical worker earns $27,120 a year — though pay ranges from $20,040 for newcomers to $37,960 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Alabama
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $20,040 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $21,630 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $27,120 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $33,300 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $37,960 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,780 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Alabama (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Alabama
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $27,120 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Alabama state income tax, a single filer keeps about $22,777 — an effective tax rate of 16.0%.
| Gross (median) | $27,120 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,102 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,075 |
| Alabama state income tax | −$1,166 |
| Take-home (annual) | $22,777 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,898 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Alabama paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Alabama?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Alabama is $27,120 per year ($13.04 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $21,630 and $33,300.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Alabama?
- On the median salary of $27,120, a single filer in Alabama takes home about $22,777 per year ($1,898 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.0%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Alabama?
- BLS counts 8,780 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Alabama in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Alabama
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Alabama state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Alabama.