Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Fairbanks, AK

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

Median annual salary $27,040 -19.9% vs national
Median hourly $13.00
10th percentile $24,400
90th percentile $61,400
Employed locally 460
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,400
    25th
    $24,440
    50th (median)
    $27,040
    75th
    $31,410
    90th
    $61,400

    Fairbanks economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,722 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 32% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 68% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Yakima, WA $44,580
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $37,360
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $36,910
    Akron, OH $35,990
    Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $34,980
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $34,150

    Related occupations in Fairbanks, AK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,390
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,950
    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 Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Fairbanks?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Fairbanks, AK is $13.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.38 or more per hour.

    Is Fairbanks above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Fairbanks, AK is 19.9% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Fairbanks?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $24,400 per year in Fairbanks, AK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,440.