Fairbanks-College, AK · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Fairbanks-College, AK

In the Fairbanks-College, AK metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $36,000 ($17.31/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,600/year and the 90th was $46,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Alaska tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,106 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 103.2 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,000$17.31 per hour · $3,000 monthly
10th Percentile$30,600$14.71/hr base
25th Percentile$34,300$16.49/hr base
75th Percentile$38,900$18.70/hr base
90th Percentile$46,800$22.50/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

$36,000
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,000
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,106After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,592Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,196Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,140 / yr
Alaska state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,754 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Fairbanks-College, 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 Fairbanks-College, AK Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (AK)
10th Percentile$14.71/hr$2,550$30,600$26,767
25th Percentile$16.49/hr$2,858$34,300$29,740
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.31/hr$3,000$36,000$31,106
75th Percentile$18.70/hr$3,242$38,900$33,436
90th Percentile$22.50/hr$3,900$46,800$39,784

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Fairbanks-College, AK

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$88,267Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index103.23.2% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio40.8%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 Fairbanks-College, AK

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Fairbanks-College, AK?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Fairbanks-College, AK is $36,000, which equates to approximately $3,000 per month or $17.31 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Fairbanks-College, AK?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Fairbanks-College, AK is $17.31 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.71/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.50/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Fairbanks-College, AK?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Fairbanks-College, AK span from $30,600 at the 10th percentile to $34,300 at the 25th, $38,900 at the 75th, and $46,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Fairbanks-College, AK?

On a median gross salary of $36,000, an estimated $31,106 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,196 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Alaska in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,894 (an effective rate of 13.6%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Fairbanks-College, AK?

On the median annual salary of $36,000, gross monthly income is $3,000. After federal, FICA, and Alaska state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,592 per month (or $1,196 every two weeks).

Is $36,000 a good salary in Fairbanks-College, AK?

At $36,000, the median salary for food preparation workers is 40.8% of the Fairbanks-College, AK median household income ($88,267). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 103.2, making regional consumer goods and services 3.2% more expensive than the U.S. average.