Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Dothan, AL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Dothan, AL metro area earn a median $29,710 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,831 take-home, or $2,069 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Dothan, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,385
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$431
- Alabama income tax$1,221
- Take-home pay$24,831
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Dothan, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,990 | $11.05 | $19,658 | $1,638 |
| 25th percentile | $27,700 | $13.32 | $23,301 | $1,942 |
| Median (50th) | $29,710 | $14.28 | $24,831 | $2,069 |
| 75th percentile | $34,800 | $16.73 | $28,667 | $2,389 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,850 | $17.72 | $30,211 | $2,518 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,710 buys in Dothan, AL
Prices in Dothan, AL are 16.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 53% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $24,831 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,620 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Dothan, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Dothan, AL ranks #275 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 275 | Dothan, AL | $29,710 | $24,831 | $29,620 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Huntsville, AL — $35,520
- Mobile, AL — $33,030
- Birmingham, AL — $34,340
- Montgomery, AL — $33,070
- Florence, AL — $30,350
- Daphne, AL — $33,850
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $30,690
- Auburn, AL — $30,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Dothan, AL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Dothan, AL metro area is $29,710 a year, or about $14.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,700 and $34,800.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Dothan, AL?
On the median $29,710 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $24,831 a year ($2,069 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,221 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Dothan, AL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 16.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,620 would in a typical U.S. city. Dothan, AL ranks #275 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Dothan, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dothan, AL is $751 a month ($942 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dothan, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,570
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,360