Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Fairbanks, AK

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fairbanks-College, AK

Median annual salary $44,150 -27.6% vs national
Median hourly $21.23
10th percentile $31,150
90th percentile $88,080
Employed locally 90
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Fairbanks, AK stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Fairbanks, AK
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,150
    25th
    $37,660
    50th (median)
    $44,150
    75th
    $66,090
    90th
    $88,080

    Fairbanks economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,722 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 52% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    North Dakota $76,630
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $63,970
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $63,280
    Yakima, WA $61,420
    South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $56,790

    Related occupations in Fairbanks, AK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,390
    Cooks, Fast Food$35,950
    Waiters and Waitresses$27,040
    Food Preparation Workers$36,830
    Cooks, Restaurant$37,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$46,640

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Fairbanks?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fairbanks, AK is $21.23, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.19 or more per hour.

    Is Fairbanks above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fairbanks, AK is 27.6% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fairbanks?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $31,150 per year in Fairbanks, AK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,660.