SOC 35-2012 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · May 2025
How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make in Mobile, AL?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Mobile, AL is $28,580. The 10th percentile is $19,980 and the 90th percentile is $38,280. Employment is 630.
Median annual wage
$28,580
- 10th percentile
- $19,980
- 25th percentile
- $22,030
- Median
- $28,580
- 75th percentile
- $35,110
- 90th percentile
- $38,280
- Mean
- $28,410
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, the published 10th percentile is $19,980 and the 90th percentile is $38,280. The difference is $18,300, which is 64.0% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $22,030 to the 75th at $35,110, covers $13,080.
The mean annual wage is $28,410, which sits below the median of $28,580. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Mobile, AL median is 23.7% lower than the national median of $37,450 for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. In 2024 national prices the local median is $32,441, which is 13.4% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 5.4% higher than the Alabama median of $27,120.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Mobile, AL is 88.098, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $28,580 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria at $32,441 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
15 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. Mobile, AL ranks 8th of 16 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL is 27 miles away, with a median of $27,270 and employment of 320. That median is 4.6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $28,799, against $32,441 here.
- Gulfport-Biloxi, MS is 50 miles away, with a median of $29,080 and employment of 810. That median is 1.7% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $32,309, against $32,441 here.
- Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL is 62 miles away, with a median of $35,890 and employment of 390. That median is 25.6% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $36,729, against $32,441 here.
Employment share
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria accounts for 0.37% of wage-and-salary employment in Mobile, AL (630 of 172,550). Nationally the occupation is 0.28% of employment (441,050 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.29 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Mobile, AL · Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make in Mobile, AL?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Mobile, AL is $28,580. The 10th percentile is $19,980 and the 90th percentile is $38,280. Employment is 630.
How does that compare with the national median for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?
The local median is 23.7% lower than the national median of $37,450.
What is Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Mobile, AL after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Mobile, AL is 88.098, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $28,580 is $32,441. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Mobile, AL compare with nearby metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 27 miles away, at $27,270. Mobile, AL ranks 8th of 16 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.