Food Preparation Worker Salary in Dothan, AL
Food Preparation Workers in the Dothan, AL metro area earn a median $26,580 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,435 take-home, or $1,870 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Dothan, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,048
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,648
- Medicare (1.45%)$385
- Alabama income tax$1,064
- Take-home pay$22,435
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Dothan, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,030 | $9.63 | $17,368 | $1,447 |
| 25th percentile | $20,940 | $10.07 | $18,072 | $1,506 |
| Median (50th) | $26,580 | $12.78 | $22,435 | $1,870 |
| 75th percentile | $30,570 | $14.70 | $25,479 | $2,123 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,250 | $16.95 | $29,006 | $2,417 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,580 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 food preparation worker's $22,435 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,761 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dothan, AL has 1.9× 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
Dothan, AL ranks #222 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 |
| 222 | Dothan, AL | $26,580 | $22,435 | $26,761 |
*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
- Birmingham, AL — $29,260
- Montgomery, AL — $27,420
- Daphne, AL — $28,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Dothan, AL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Dothan, AL metro area is $26,580 a year, or about $12.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,940 and $30,570.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Dothan, AL?
On the median $26,580 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $22,435 a year ($1,870 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,064 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Dothan, AL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 16.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,761 would in a typical U.S. city. Dothan, AL ranks #222 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 40% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,360