Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Fairbanks, AK

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

Median annual salary $35,950 +19.2% vs national
Median hourly $17.28
10th percentile $24,400
90th percentile $36,520
Employed locally 530
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,400
    25th
    $29,050
    50th (median)
    $35,950
    75th
    $36,190
    90th
    $36,520

    Fairbanks economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,722 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $36,050
    Anchorage, AK $35,820
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $35,620
    Yakima, WA $34,790
    Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $31,900

    Related occupations in Fairbanks, AK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,390
    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
    Bartenders $29,820

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Fairbanks?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Fairbanks, AK is $17.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.09 or more per hour.

    Is Fairbanks above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Fairbanks, AK is 19.2% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Fairbanks?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $24,400 per year in Fairbanks, AK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,050.