Food Preparation Workers pay range in Fairbanks
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,730 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Fairbanks earn between $34,070 and $38,540.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,660 | $3,055 | $17.62 |
| Median | $34,530 | $2,878 | $16.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,070 | $2,839 | $16.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,540 | $3,212 | $18.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Fairbanks vs. Alaska and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Fairbanks earn about the same as the Alaska average ($37,230) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $36,660 | $34,530 | $31,300 | $42,730 | 390 |
| Alaska | $37,230 | $35,720 | $30,350 | $46,440 | 2,800 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Fairbanks
On the average salary of $36,660, a single filer in Fairbanks takes home about $31,636 a year, or $2,636 a month and $1,217 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 food preparation workers? 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 $36,660 buys what about $35,521 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fairbanks ($61,810). A typical home costs $312,179, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Alaska cities
Fairbanks ranks 2nd of 2 Alaska metro areas for this job; Anchorage pays the most ($36,710).
- Anchorage$36,710
- Fairbanks$36,660
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Fairbanks: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Fairbanks?
$17.63 an hour on average, and $16.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Fairbanks?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Fairbanks?
About $31,636 a year ($2,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,660. Alaska has no state income tax; Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Fairbanks than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Fairbanks-College, AK (21820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 1.86, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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