Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

In the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $26,700 ($12.84/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $19,900/year and the 90th was $35,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Alabama tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $22,578 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 84.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$26,700$12.84 per hour · $2,225 monthly
10th Percentile$19,900$9.57/hr base
25th Percentile$21,000$10.10/hr base
75th Percentile$32,900$15.82/hr base
90th Percentile$35,900$17.26/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

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

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$26,700
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$26,700
Net 85%
Fed 4%
AL 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$22,578After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,882Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$868Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,060 / yr
Alabama state income tax$1,020 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,043 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (AL)
10th Percentile$9.57/hr$1,658$19,900$17,287
25th Percentile$10.10/hr$1,750$21,000$18,143
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$12.84/hr$2,225$26,700$22,578
75th Percentile$15.82/hr$2,742$32,900$27,306
90th Percentile$17.26/hr$2,992$35,900$29,577

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$26,700 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$61,891Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index84.815.2% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio43.1%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Alabama:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL is $26,700, which equates to approximately $2,225 per month or $12.84 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL is $12.84 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $9.57/hour and one in ten earned more than $17.26/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL span from $19,900 at the 10th percentile to $21,000 at the 25th, $32,900 at the 75th, and $35,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL?

On a median gross salary of $26,700, an estimated $22,578 lands in net take-home pay per year ($868 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Alabama in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,122 (an effective rate of 15.4%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL?

On the median annual salary of $26,700, gross monthly income is $2,225. After federal, FICA, and Alabama state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,882 per month (or $868 every two weeks).

Is $26,700 a good salary in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL?

At $26,700, the median salary for food preparation workers is 43.1% of the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL median household income ($61,891). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 84.8, making regional consumer goods and services 15.2% cheaper than the U.S. average.