How to Become a Culinary Professional in Alaska (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Alaska?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $40,140. Employment concentration in Alaska is roughly 0.80 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Alaska?

Alaska currently employs approximately 2,350 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $52,190 ($25.09/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 680 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.5% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $52,190 ($25.09/hr)
25th percentile: $41,390 per year
75th percentile: $73,120 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $91,520 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,170 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 680
Versus national median: -16.5% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.61 - this occupation is more concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alaska employs about 2,350 culinary professionals earning a median $40,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Alaska.

Alaska employs approximately 2,350 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $40,140 ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 250,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in Alaska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Alaska): $40,140 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Alaska

How to become a Culinary Professional in Alaska? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in Alaska.

How long does it take? culinary professional training length in Alaska varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do culinary professionals earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Alaska is $40,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,230 and experienced professionals can earn $46,800 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Alaska

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Alaska training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Alaska that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to culinary professionals in Alaska before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	1,910	$41,145	$44,332	$36,273	$54,506
La Crosse-Onalaska	1,160	$38,174	$38,024	$28,359	$47,452
Fairbanks-College	370	$43,794	$45,391	$35,262	$52,705

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 2,350 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alaska.

How much do culinary professionals earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Alaska is $40,140, which is $3,310 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Alaska

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)