Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Alaska make a median of $52,190 a year, or about $25.09 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $50,034 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 45.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Alaska?
About chefs and head cooks
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Alaska
Pay for chefs and head cooks in Alaska runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,643/month, which is 44.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for chefs and head cookss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College | $55K | +6% | 90 |
| Anchorage | $49K | -6% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 44.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,350/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 70% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $52K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Alaska pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Alaska?
The median is $52,190 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,170, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $91,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,664/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 44.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $50,034 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.