SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Alaska
Alaska nonmetropolitan area · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Alaska, AK is $26,330 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 25.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Alaska, AK is $26,330 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 25.3%. Pay ranges from under $24,770 at the tenth percentile to more than $34,420 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $25,930 to $27,390.
The area has 1,000 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 9.2 of every thousand jobs. Fairbanks leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $26,530. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 346th of 346 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,770 | −29.7% |
| 25th | $25,930 | −26.4% |
| Median (50th) | $26,330 | −25.3% |
| 75th | $27,390 | −22.3% |
| 90th | $34,420 | −2.3% |
| Mean | $29,170 | −17.2% |
Other metro areas in Alaska
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alaska run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $26,330 buys what $25,713 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 27.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$26,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,713US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $26,330 a year, 25.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,770 to $34,420 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,000 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fairbanks, at $26,530.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Alaska, AK?
The median annual wage is $26,330, or $12.66 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 $35,230, so pay in Alaska, AK is 25.3% lower. 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 Alaska, AK earns more than $34,420 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $24,770 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 $26,530 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,000 jobs in this occupation in Alaska, 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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