Food Preparation Worker Salary in Florence, AL
Food Preparation Workers in the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area earn a median $27,410 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,077 take-home, or $1,923 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Florence, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,131
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,699
- Medicare (1.45%)$397
- Alabama income tax$1,106
- Take-home pay$23,077
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Florence, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,250 | $9.74 | $17,538 | $1,462 |
| 25th percentile | $20,860 | $10.03 | $18,010 | $1,501 |
| Median (50th) | $27,410 | $13.18 | $23,077 | $1,923 |
| 75th percentile | $33,250 | $15.99 | $27,499 | $2,292 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,660 | $17.14 | $29,315 | $2,443 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,410 buys in Florence, AL
Prices in Florence, AL are 15.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 52% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $23,077 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,208 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Florence, AL has 1.7× 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
Florence, AL ranks #207 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 |
| 207 | Florence, AL | $27,410 | $23,077 | $27,208 |
*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
- Mobile, AL — $28,390
- Dothan, AL — $26,580
- Birmingham, AL — $29,260
- Montgomery, AL — $27,420
- Daphne, AL — $28,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Florence, AL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area is $27,410 a year, or about $13.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,860 and $33,250.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Florence, AL?
On the median $27,410 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $23,077 a year ($1,923 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,106 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Florence, AL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 15.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,208 would in a typical U.S. city. Florence, AL ranks #207 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Florence, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Florence, AL is $775 a month ($1,000 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 Florence, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $25,990
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,590