Food Preparation Workers pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,200 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Tuscaloosa earn between $21,840 and $34,690.
- $21K10th
- $22K25th
- $29KMedian
- $35K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 |
| Median | $28,530 | $2,378 | $13.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,840 | $1,820 | $10.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,690 | $2,891 | $16.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Tuscaloosa vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Tuscaloosa earn about the same as the Alabama average ($28,460) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $28,600 | $28,530 | $20,840 | $37,200 | 870 |
| 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 Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $28,600, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $24,050 a year, or $2,004 a month and $925 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 Tuscaloosa a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $28,600 buys what about $32,603 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 5th 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 Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$13.75 an hour on average, and $13.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $24,050 a year ($2,004 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,600. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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