Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in Alaska make a median of $35,720 a year, or about $17.17 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $34,244 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 63.9% 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 $36K get you in Alaska?
About food preparation workers
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What this looks like in Alaska
Food preparation workers pay in Alaska tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,643/month, which is 64.1% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $35K | -3% | 1,590 |
| Fairbanks-College | $35K | -3% | 390 |
Compare to other states
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 64.1% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food preparation workers in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,821/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 90% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food preparation worker a high-paying job in Alaska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
Alaska pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do food preparation workers make in Alaska?
The median is $35,720 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,350, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $46,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,562/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 64.1% 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 food preparation workers 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 food preparation workers salary is worth about $34,244 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation workers 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.