SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Anchorage
Anchorage, AK · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay in Anchorage, AK is $26,080 a year, 26.0% under the national median of $35,230 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Anchorage, AK is $26,080 a year, 26.0% under the national median of $35,230 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $25,250 and $30,110. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $24,770 and the ninetieth at $65,840.
The area has 2,340 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 13.2 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 424th of 425 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,770 | −29.7% |
| 25th | $25,250 | −28.3% |
| Median (50th) | $26,080 | −26.0% |
| 75th | $30,110 | −14.5% |
| 90th | $65,840 | +86.9% |
| Mean | $35,410 | +0.5% |
Other metro areas in Alaska
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks | $26,530 | 490 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Anchorage run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $26,080 buys what $25,469 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 27.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$26,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,469US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $26,080 a year, 26.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,770 to $65,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,340 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 Anchorage, AK?
The median annual wage is $26,080, or $12.54 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 Anchorage, AK is 26.0% 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 Anchorage, AK earns more than $65,840 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 2,340 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.
Explore related data