Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Fairbanks
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,460 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Fairbanks earn between $47,260 and $58,450.
- $45K10th
- $47K25th
- $49KMedian
- $58K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,500 | $4,292 | $24.76 |
| Median | $49,340 | $4,112 | $23.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,260 | $3,938 | $22.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,450 | $4,871 | $28.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Fairbanks vs. Alaska and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Fairbanks earn 4% more than the Alaska average ($49,410) and 33% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $51,500 | $49,340 | $45,110 | $58,460 | 170 |
| Alaska | $49,410 | $48,580 | $37,990 | $58,710 | 1,430 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Fairbanks
On the average salary of $51,500, a single filer in Fairbanks takes home about $43,560 a year, or $3,630 a month and $1,675 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Is Fairbanks a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fairbanks area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $51,500 buys what about $49,899 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Fairbanks ($61,810). A typical home costs $312,179, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Alaska cities
Fairbanks ranks 1st of 2 Alaska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fairbanks$51,500
- Anchorage$49,020
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Fairbanks: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Fairbanks?
$24.76 an hour on average, and $23.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Fairbanks?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Fairbanks?
About $43,560 a year ($3,630 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,500. Alaska has no state income tax; Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Fairbanks than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Fairbanks-College, AK (21820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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