How to Become a Culinary Professional in Alabama (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Alabama?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Alabama earned a median annual wage of approximately $32,180. Employment concentration in Alabama is roughly 0.85 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Alabama?

Alabama currently employs approximately 16,260 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alabama chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $62,400 ($30.00/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,000 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.1% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,400 ($30.00/hr)
25th percentile: $50,900 per year
75th percentile: $74,130 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $85,990 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,940 per year
Workers employed in Alabama: 1,000
Versus national median: -0.1% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.37 - this occupation is less concentrated in Alabama than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alabama employs about 16,260 culinary professionals earning a median $32,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Alabama.

Key Facts

Median wage (Alabama): $32,180/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Alabama: 16,260 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.85x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 14.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Alabama

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	East Mississippi Community College	57.7	Contact school for pricing	$42,022	44%	Yes*	98 mi
2	Georgia Northwestern Technical College	53.6	Contact school for pricing	$44,490	38%	Yes*	135 mi
3	George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville	52.6	$5,220 - $19,008	$50,276	50%	Yes*	88 mi
4	West Georgia Technical College	51.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,835	33%	Yes*	111 mi
5	Meridian Community College	50.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,810	Not reported	Yes*	117 mi
6	Columbus Technical College	47.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,818	24%	Yes*	110 mi
7	East Central Community College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$36,389	38%	—	137 mi
8	H Councill Trenholm State Community College	45.2	Contact school for pricing	$34,122	16%	Yes*	41 mi
9	Shelton State Community College	40.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,082	26%	Yes*	49 mi
10	Lawson State Community College	38.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,506	26%	Yes*	45 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Alabama employs approximately 16,260 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $32,180 ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 250,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in Alabama, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Alabama): $32,180 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Alabama

How to become a Culinary Professional in Alabama? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in Alabama.

How long does it take? culinary professional training length in Alabama varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do culinary professionals earn in Alabama? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Alabama is $32,180 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $24,170 and experienced professionals can earn $39,220 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Alabama

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Alabama training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Alabama that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to culinary professionals in Alabama before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Alabama vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Birmingham	4,700	$35,743	$35,809	$28,943	$41,811
Huntsville	2,120	$36,573	$36,181	$27,292	$46,439
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley	1,770	$35,757	$35,279	$27,193	$44,955
Montgomery	1,670	$35,608	$35,164	$25,211	$41,938
Mobile	1,630	$34,205	$34,904	$24,771	$46,179
Columbus	1,390	$32,313	$32,896	$23,702	$41,225
Tuscaloosa	1,080	$34,293	$35,208	$26,107	$42,331
Auburn-Opelika	880	$32,245	$33,129	$23,830	$39,474
Dothan	620	$29,877	$31,054	$22,825	$36,954
Florence-Muscle Shoals	590	$30,350	$31,480	$22,200	$36,820
Gadsden	400	$28,790	$29,330	$22,950	$35,870
Anniston-Oxford	390	$29,850	$30,900	$22,500	$36,000
Decatur	380	$32,410	$33,090	$23,580	$38,120

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Alabama? Alabama currently employs approximately 16,260 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Alabama? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alabama.

How much do culinary professionals earn in Alabama compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Alabama is $32,180, which is $4,650 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Alabama

Best Trade Schools in Alabama (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Alabama

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)