Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Anchorage, AK
Cooks, Restaurant in the Anchorage, AK metro area earn a median $40,140 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,432 take-home, or $2,869 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Anchorage, AK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,637
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,489
- Medicare (1.45%)$582
- Alaska income tax$0
- Take-home pay$34,432
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Anchorage, AK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,320 | $17.46 | $31,363 | $2,614 |
| 25th percentile | $36,830 | $17.71 | $31,773 | $2,648 |
| Median (50th) | $40,140 | $19.30 | $34,432 | $2,869 |
| 75th percentile | $43,980 | $21.14 | $37,518 | $3,126 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,080 | $22.63 | $40,009 | $3,334 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alaska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,140 buys in Anchorage, AK
Prices in Anchorage, AK are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $34,432 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,662 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Anchorage, AK as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Anchorage, AK ranks #110 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 110 | Anchorage, AK | $40,140 | $34,432 | $32,662 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Anchorage, AK?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Anchorage, AK metro area is $40,140 a year, or about $19.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,830 and $43,980.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Anchorage, AK?
On the median $40,140 salary, a single filer living in Alaska takes home about $34,432 a year ($2,869 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Anchorage, AK a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,662 would in a typical U.S. city. Anchorage, AK ranks #110 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Anchorage, AK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Anchorage, AK is $1,190 a month ($1,562 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Anchorage, AK
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,290
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,920
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,760
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,960
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,280
- Dishwasher — $31,940
- Bartender — $31,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $30,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,040
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,080