Chef Salary in Huntsville, AL — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Huntsville's cost of living (index: 90). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Chef Salary in Huntsville — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Huntsville
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Huntsville
Huntsville has a metro population of 490,000, offering a growing job market with opportunities especially in established local industries. The 2.8% unemployment rate is below the national average, suggesting a tight labor market favorable to job seekers.
Financial Calculators for Huntsville
Other Professions in Huntsville
Chef Salary — Other Alabama Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Chef make in Huntsville, AL?
The estimated median salary for a Chef in Huntsville is $53,028 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $58,920 adjusted by Huntsville's cost of living index (90). The typical salary range runs from $38,565 (25th percentile) to $72,522 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $95,148.
Is Huntsville affordable for a Chef?
On a $53,028 annual salary, a Chef in Huntsville would spend approximately 17.0% of gross monthly income on median rent ($750/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Huntsville relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $270,000 is 5.1× the annual salary.
How does a Chef's salary compare to Huntsville's overall income?
Huntsville's median household income is $72,200. A Chef earning the city-adjusted median of $53,028 earns 26.6% less than the typical Huntsville household income. This may reflect that the profession is entry-level or that Huntsville has a particularly high median household income due to high-earning industries.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.