Anchorage, AK · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Anchorage, AK

In the Anchorage, AK metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $36,800 ($17.69/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,300/year and the 90th was $47,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Alaska tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,749 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 105.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,800$17.69 per hour · $3,067 monthly
10th Percentile$31,300$15.05/hr base
25th Percentile$35,000$16.83/hr base
75th Percentile$39,800$19.13/hr base
90th Percentile$47,800$22.98/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,800
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,800
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,749After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,646Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,221Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,236 / yr
Alaska state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,815 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Anchorage, AK

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Anchorage, AK Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (AK)
10th Percentile$15.05/hr$2,608$31,300$27,330
25th Percentile$16.83/hr$2,917$35,000$30,303
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.69/hr$3,067$36,800$31,749
75th Percentile$19.13/hr$3,317$39,800$34,159
90th Percentile$22.98/hr$3,983$47,800$40,587

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Anchorage, AK

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$100,505Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index105.45.4% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio36.6%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Alaska:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Anchorage, AK

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Anchorage, AK?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Anchorage, AK is $36,800, which equates to approximately $3,067 per month or $17.69 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Anchorage, AK?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Anchorage, AK is $17.69 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.05/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.98/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Anchorage, AK?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Anchorage, AK span from $31,300 at the 10th percentile to $35,000 at the 25th, $39,800 at the 75th, and $47,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Anchorage, AK?

On a median gross salary of $36,800, an estimated $31,749 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,221 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Alaska in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,051 (an effective rate of 13.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Anchorage, AK?

On the median annual salary of $36,800, gross monthly income is $3,067. After federal, FICA, and Alaska state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,646 per month (or $1,221 every two weeks).

Is $36,800 a good salary in Anchorage, AK?

At $36,800, the median salary for food preparation workers is 36.6% of the Anchorage, AK median household income ($100,505). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 105.4, making regional consumer goods and services 5.4% more expensive than the U.S. average.