SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Anchorage
Anchorage, AK · 1 metro areas compared
In Anchorage, AK the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria reaches $48,290 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Anchorage, AK the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria reaches $48,290 a year. That is 28.9% more than the national median of $37,450. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,250 and $50,830. The lowest tenth earn under $38,250, while the highest tenth earn more than $58,300.
Employment stands at 530, or 3.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Fairbanks leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,340. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 324th of 425 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,250 | +2.1% |
| 25th | $47,250 | +26.2% |
| Median (50th) | $48,290 | +28.9% |
| 75th | $50,830 | +35.7% |
| 90th | $58,300 | +55.7% |
| Mean | $49,020 | +30.9% |
Other metro areas in Alaska
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks | $49,340 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Anchorage run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $48,290 buys what $47,158 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,158US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,290 a year, 28.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,250 to $58,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 530 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fairbanks, at $49,340.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Anchorage, AK?
The median annual wage is $48,290, or $23.21 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Anchorage, AK is 28.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Anchorage, AK earns more than $58,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,250 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fairbanks, at $49,340 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 530 jobs in this occupation in Anchorage, AK. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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