Cooks, Restaurant salary in Alaska
Cooks, Restaurant in Alaska earn a median of $40,140 a year ($19.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,800 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $37,390. Alaska ranks 12th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 7.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $41,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Alaska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| 25th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Median | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| 75th percentile | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Average (mean) | $41,770 | $20.08 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,345 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,672.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,543.85 |
| Weekly | $771.92 |
| Hourly | $19.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Alaska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $40,150 | 280 |
| Anchorage, AK | $40,140 | 1,340 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Alaska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,310 | $12.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Bartender | $30,460 | $14.65 |
| Dishwasher | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,090 | $18.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Alaska
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Alaska?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Alaska is $40,140 a year, or $19.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Alaska?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Alaska earn at least $46,800 a year. The top 25% earn $44,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Alaska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,230 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,820 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Alaska?
About 2,350 cooks, restaurant are employed in Alaska, not counting the self-employed.