Food Preparation Worker Salary in Anchorage, AK
Food Preparation Workers in the Anchorage, AK metro area earn a median $34,760 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,110 take-home, or $2,509 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Anchorage, AK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,991
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,155
- Medicare (1.45%)$504
- Alaska income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,110
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Anchorage, AK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,300 | $14.57 | $26,526 | $2,211 |
| 25th percentile | $33,130 | $15.93 | $28,800 | $2,400 |
| Median (50th) | $34,760 | $16.71 | $30,110 | $2,509 |
| 75th percentile | $38,210 | $18.37 | $32,882 | $2,740 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,680 | $21.96 | $38,884 | $3,240 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alaska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,760 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 food preparation worker's $30,110 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,562 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Anchorage, AK has 1.6× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Anchorage, AK ranks #158 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 158 | Anchorage, AK | $34,760 | $30,110 | $28,562 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Anchorage, AK?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Anchorage, AK metro area is $34,760 a year, or about $16.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,130 and $38,210.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Anchorage, AK?
On the median $34,760 salary, a single filer living in Alaska takes home about $30,110 a year ($2,509 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Anchorage, AK a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,562 would in a typical U.S. city. Anchorage, AK ranks #158 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation 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) — 47% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $40,140
- 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