Average Salaries in Alaska
Explore salaries across 541 occupations in Alaska. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $73.0K, +18.6% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 541 occupations and 312,770 total jobs in Alaska.
How the state compares
Alaska is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Alaska has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Dentists, General. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Alaska
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Alaska
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists, General | $230.8K | 260 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers | $226.5K | 1,620 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $200.8K | 310 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $168.9K | 140 |
| Chief Executives | $168.7K | 910 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $168.0K | 170 |
| Optometrists | $165.8K | 70 |
| Pharmacists | $163.2K | 510 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $152.3K | 730 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $147.2K | 120 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Alaska
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 7,790 | $36.9K |
| Registered Nurses | 7,040 | $110.7K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 6,680 | $39.6K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 6,220 | $38.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 6,010 | $120.5K |
| Cashiers | 5,950 | $36.1K |
| First-Line Supervisors Of Office And Administrative Support Workers | 5,720 | $67.0K |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 5,320 | $46.3K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 5,060 | $34.4K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 4,900 | $39.0K |
What Alaska specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Alaska than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Alaska
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | 29.43 | $36.7K |
| Mining And Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 24.77 | $109.4K |
| Zoologists And Wildlife Biologists | 19.48 | $84.6K |
| Ship Engineers | 18.12 | $80.2K |
| Commercial Pilots | 17.36 | $110.9K |
| Pile Driver Operators | 16.79 | $87.6K |
| Tour And Travel Guides | 16.13 | $45.0K |
| Loading And Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | 16.12 | $89.8K |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil And Gas | 14.09 | $98.9K |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | 12.61 | $48.9K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
| Maryland | $72.0K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
Metros inside Alaska
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Alaska
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $72.0K | 166,840 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $68.9K | 30,130 |
Common salary questions for Alaska
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.