Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Alabama employs 16,260 Cooks, Restaurant professionals, below the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Alabama employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19
The location quotient (LQ) of 0.59 indicates that Alabama has a below-average concentration of Cooks, Restaurant professionals. This may suggest fewer local opportunities compared to other states, though national trends should also be considered.
Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.
The average annual salary for a Cooks, Restaurant in Alabama is $33,000. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
Alabama employs approximately 16,260 Cooks, Restaurant professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Alabama for this occupation nationwide.
Alabama has average or below-average concentration of Cooks, Restaurant jobs (LQ: 0.59). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Alabama is $33000/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.
The top state for Cooks, Restaurant employment is California with 152,250 jobs.
Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for Alabama's largest cities.
Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Alabama's leading institutions.
Compare Cooks, Restaurant labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.
Drill deeper into Cooks, Restaurant pay, hiring, and education data for Alabama.
Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 352014) in Alabama.