Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Anchorage, AK
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Anchorage, AK metro area earn a median $33,280 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,920 take-home, or $2,410 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Anchorage, AK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,814
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,063
- Medicare (1.45%)$483
- Alaska income tax$0
- Take-home pay$28,920
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Anchorage, AK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,810 | $11.93 | $22,041 | $1,837 |
| 25th percentile | $28,790 | $13.84 | $25,313 | $2,109 |
| Median (50th) | $33,280 | $16.00 | $28,920 | $2,410 |
| 75th percentile | $39,550 | $19.01 | $33,958 | $2,830 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,070 | $21.67 | $38,394 | $3,199 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alaska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,280 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 fast food and counter worker's $28,920 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,434 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are about as common in Anchorage, AK as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Anchorage, AK ranks #79 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 79 | Anchorage, AK | $33,280 | $28,920 | $27,434 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Anchorage, AK?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Anchorage, AK metro area is $33,280 a year, or about $16.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,790 and $39,550.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Anchorage, AK?
On the median $33,280 salary, a single filer living in Alaska takes home about $28,920 a year ($2,410 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Anchorage, AK a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,434 would in a typical U.S. city. Anchorage, AK ranks #79 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker 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) — 49% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Anchorage, AK
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,080