Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in Alabama
In Alabama, fast food and counter workers earn a median $23,700 a year, well below the national median of $31,200 (−24%); the state ranks 48th of 51 states by median. That is 48% less than the median across all occupations in Alabama ($45,670). Among neighbouring states, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia pay more (up to $29,080 in Florida) and Mississippi pays less (down to $22,610 in Mississippi). Alabama employs 41,460 fast food and counter workers, 19.6 per 1,000 jobs, the 30th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.79 means it is less common in Alabama than nationally.
Alabama vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $10.14 | $10.60 | $11.40 | $13.39 | $15.74 | $12.31 | 41,460 | 19.62 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $21,080 | $22,050 | $23,700 | $27,840 | $32,740 | $25,600 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.98 | $13.32 | $15.00 | $17.34 | $20.51 | $15.46 | 3,854,050 | – | – |
| Annual | $22,840 | $27,700 | $31,200 | $36,070 | $42,650 | $32,150 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 48th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 30th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.79
- Jobs per 1,000
- 19.62
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Alabama's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Alabama
13 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Alabama publish a row for fast food and counter workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $13.07 | $27,180 | $22,160 | $34,270 | 5,030 | 18.85 | 0.76 |
| Birmingham, AL | $12.99 | $27,020 | $22,010 | $33,990 | 10,080 | 19.38 | 0.78 |
| Decatur, AL | $12.37 | $25,720 | $21,630 | $29,810 | 1,280 | 20.89 | 0.84 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $11.84 | $24,630 | $21,020 | $35,030 | 2,360 | 21.80 | 0.88 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $11.83 | $24,600 | $20,770 | $34,220 | 2,370 | 32.57 | 1.31 |
| Mobile, AL | $11.31 | $23,510 | $21,090 | $34,020 | 3,160 | 18.33 | 0.74 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $11.20 | $23,300 | $19,580 | $30,670 | 4,060 | 34.91 | 1.41 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $11.06 | $23,000 | $21,030 | $36,410 | 2,240 | 25.76 | 1.04 |
| Montgomery, AL | $11.04 | $22,960 | $20,860 | $31,060 | 3,170 | 19.15 | 0.77 |
| Gadsden, AL | $10.95 | $22,770 | $18,950 | $29,840 | 810 | 24.47 | 0.99 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $10.89 | $22,650 | $20,420 | $28,580 | 1,080 | 24.87 | 1.00 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $10.86 | $22,590 | $20,400 | $28,360 | 1,310 | 23.32 | 0.94 |
| Dothan, AL | $10.75 | $22,360 | $20,010 | $26,960 | 1,200 | 19.71 | 0.80 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $10.86 | $22,580 | $20,420 | $29,260 | 1,840 | 21.97 | 0.89 |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $10.85 | $22,580 | $20,320 | $27,440 | 920 | 14.30 | 0.58 |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $10.85 | $22,570 | $21,020 | $28,780 | 1,230 | 18.14 | 0.73 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $10.82 | $22,510 | $20,700 | $28,250 | 2,740 | 17.94 | 0.72 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $11.40 | $23,700 | 41,460 | 0.79 |
| Florida | $13.98 | $29,080 | 235,400 | 0.96 |
| Georgia | $12.94 | $26,920 | 145,030 | 1.20 |
| Mississippi | $10.87 | $22,610 | 31,220 | 1.08 |
| Tennessee | $13.21 | $27,470 | 90,690 | 1.12 |
See the national page for Fast Food and Counter Workers (every state ranked) and the Alabama wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Alabama estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.