Fastest growing jobs in Alaska, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Alaska. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by Alaska's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in Alaska run 2.4% above the national average (2024), so a Alaska salary is worth about 0.98× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Alaska.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Alaska

OccupationMedian, Alaska · Growth 2024–34

1Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other$106,840
No formal educational credential
$89,650 – $158,240+22.7%
2Home Health and Personal Care Aides$39,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,710 – $46,740+16.3%
3Transportation Workers, All Other$42,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,300 – $72,450+15.1%
4Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$61,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,790 – $80,390+14.9%
5Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$106,480
No formal educational credential
$62,280 – $182,740+14.3%
6Nursing Assistants$46,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,450 – $58,430+13.0%
7Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,950
Bachelor's degree
$44,550 – $109,080+11.0%
8Tour and Travel Guides$44,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,410 – $58,890+10.8%
9Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $60,410+10.5%
10Physical Therapists$115,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$97,950 – $133,690+10.3%
11Medical Assistants$52,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,060 – $65,040+10.2%
12Registered Nurses$109,480
Bachelor's degree
$85,030 – $149,070+10.2%
13Physician Assistants$150,700
Master's degree
$106,060 – $201,270+10.1%
14Nurse Practitioners$155,170
Master's degree
$95,570 – $207,490+9.9%
15Dental Assistants$57,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,300 – $62,780+9.4%
16Dental Hygienists$132,690
Associate's degree
$60,590 – $138,840+9.1%
17Medical and Health Services Managers$132,240
Bachelor's degree
$81,940 – $292,300+9.1%
18Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$80,770
Master's degree
$58,240 – $114,650+9.1%
19Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$232,140
Bachelor's degree
$59,130 – $369,150+8.9%
20Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$91,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,530 – $122,880+7.6%
21Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,180
No formal educational credential
$35,640 – $38,840+7.4%
22Commercial Pilots$100,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,610 – $163,410+7.2%
23Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$37,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,700 – $43,920+7.1%
24Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$45,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,310 – $79,200+7.1%
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$82,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,800 – $110,060+6.9%
26Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$64,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $76,230+6.9%
27Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,370
No formal educational credential
$33,560 – $46,810+6.8%
28Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$46,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,700 – $61,650+6.8%
29Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$88,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,360 – $149,370+6.5%
30Social and Human Service Assistants$47,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $78,850+6.4%
31Receptionists and Information Clerks$44,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $57,360+6.0%
32First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $128,010+5.9%
33Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$48,580
No formal educational credential
$37,990 – $58,710+5.6%
34Aircraft Service Attendants$46,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,920 – $60,740+5.5%
35Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$56,730
Bachelor's degree
$40,820 – $81,620+5.4%
36Cargo and Freight Agents$52,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,740 – $80,170+5.3%
37Billing and Posting Clerks$52,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,610 – $66,380+5.2%
38First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$98,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,300 – $137,900+4.8%
39First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,350 – $106,070+4.6%
40Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$40,210
No formal educational credential
$35,660 – $58,330+4.5%
41Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$56,510
Associate's degree
$46,190 – $75,030+4.4%
42Material Moving Workers, All Other$48,150
No formal educational credential
$37,520 – $74,710+4.2%
43Child, Family, and School Social Workers$62,630
Bachelor's degree
$45,330 – $91,240+4.1%
44Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$91,960
Bachelor's degree
$61,840 – $147,910+4.0%
45Sailors and Marine Oilers$63,130
No formal educational credential
$40,200 – $91,730+4.0%
46Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$60,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,260 – $90,900+3.6%
47Buyers and Purchasing Agents$83,460
Bachelor's degree
$60,860 – $132,730+3.6%
48Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$57,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $80,970+3.6%
49Cooks, Short Order$37,780
No formal educational credential
$34,830 – $47,600+3.6%
50Security Guards$47,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,520 – $76,350+3.6%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAlaska	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Underground Mining Machine Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$106,840	$89,650 – $158,240	+22.7%
2	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,740	$30,710 – $46,740	+16.3%
3	Transportation Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,360	$32,300 – $72,450	+15.1%
4	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,300	$53,790 – $80,390	+14.9%
5	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$106,480	$62,280 – $182,740	+14.3%
6	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,370	$39,450 – $58,430	+13.0%
7	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$60,950	$44,550 – $109,080	+11.0%
8	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,210	$33,410 – $58,890	+10.8%
9	Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,870	$36,240 – $60,410	+10.5%
10	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$115,280	$97,950 – $133,690	+10.3%
11	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,560	$46,060 – $65,040	+10.2%
12	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$109,480	$85,030 – $149,070	+10.2%
13	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$150,700	$106,060 – $201,270	+10.1%
14	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$155,170	$95,570 – $207,490	+9.9%
15	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,710	$40,300 – $62,780	+9.4%
16	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$132,690	$60,590 – $138,840	+9.1%
17	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,240	$81,940 – $292,300	+9.1%
18	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$80,770	$58,240 – $114,650	+9.1%
19	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$232,140	$59,130 – $369,150	+8.9%
20	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,150	$54,530 – $122,880	+7.6%
21	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,180	$35,640 – $38,840	+7.4%
22	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,120	$49,610 – $163,410	+7.2%
23	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,500	$28,700 – $43,920	+7.1%
24	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,870	$38,310 – $79,200	+7.1%
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,670	$58,800 – $110,060	+6.9%
26	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,150	$46,960 – $76,230	+6.9%
27	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$37,370	$33,560 – $46,810	+6.8%
28	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,210	$27,700 – $61,650	+6.8%
29	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,230	$42,360 – $149,370	+6.5%
30	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,360	$37,440 – $78,850	+6.4%
31	Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,720	$32,810 – $57,360	+6.0%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,960	$42,220 – $128,010	+5.9%
33	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$48,580	$37,990 – $58,710	+5.6%
34	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,760	$41,920 – $60,740	+5.5%
35	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$56,730	$40,820 – $81,620	+5.4%
36	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,070	$43,740 – $80,170	+5.3%
37	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,170	$34,610 – $66,380	+5.2%
38	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,110	$60,300 – $137,900	+4.8%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$45,350 – $106,070	+4.6%
40	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$40,210	$35,660 – $58,330	+4.5%
41	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$56,510	$46,190 – $75,030	+4.4%
42	Material Moving Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$48,150	$37,520 – $74,710	+4.2%
43	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$62,630	$45,330 – $91,240	+4.1%
44	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$91,960	$61,840 – $147,910	+4.0%
45	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$63,130	$40,200 – $91,730	+4.0%
46	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,270	$38,260 – $90,900	+3.6%
47	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$83,460	$60,860 – $132,730	+3.6%
48	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,840	$44,840 – $80,970	+3.6%
49	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$37,780	$34,830 – $47,600	+3.6%
50	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,480	$36,520 – $76,350	+3.6%

More for Alaska

Metro areas in Alaska

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Alaska

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Alaska to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in Alaska, 2024–34

More for Alaska

Metro areas in Alaska

By field in Alaska

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34