Food Preparation Worker Salary in Daphne, AL
Food Preparation Workers in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area earn a median $28,490 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,912 take-home, or $1,993 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Daphne, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,239
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,766
- Medicare (1.45%)$413
- Alabama income tax$1,160
- Take-home pay$23,912
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Daphne, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,050 | $10.12 | $18,157 | $1,513 |
| 25th percentile | $22,050 | $10.60 | $18,931 | $1,578 |
| Median (50th) | $28,490 | $13.70 | $23,912 | $1,993 |
| 75th percentile | $35,110 | $16.88 | $28,900 | $2,408 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,220 | $17.89 | $30,490 | $2,541 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,490 buys in Daphne, AL
Prices in Daphne, AL are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $23,912 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,253 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Daphne, AL has 2.4× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Daphne, AL ranks #239 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 239 | Daphne, AL | $28,490 | $23,912 | $25,253 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Auburn, AL — $28,770
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $28,530
- Florence, AL — $27,410
- Mobile, AL — $28,390
- Dothan, AL — $26,580
- Birmingham, AL — $29,260
- Montgomery, AL — $27,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Daphne, AL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area is $28,490 a year, or about $13.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,050 and $35,110.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Daphne, AL?
On the median $28,490 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $23,912 a year ($1,993 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,160 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Daphne, AL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,253 would in a typical U.S. city. Daphne, AL ranks #239 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Daphne, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Daphne, AL is $1,200 a month ($1,345 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Daphne, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,850
- Bartender — $28,360
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,000
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,080
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,870
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,000