High paying jobs in Alaska that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Alaska and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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 · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$137,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,850 – $193,610320
2Massage Therapists$134,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,140 – $161,400570
3Dental Hygienists$132,690
Associate's degree
$60,590 – $138,840790
4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$124,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,680 – $167,880370
5Air Traffic Controllers$123,950
Associate's degree
$66,800 – $191,690490
6Transportation Inspectors$123,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,540 – $164,260170
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$114,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,680 – $183,680140
8Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$106,480
No formal educational credential
$62,280 – $182,7401,090
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$105,670
Associate's degree
$78,170 – $126,540140
10Construction and Building Inspectors$102,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,550 – $124,840270
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$102,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,530 – $158,4802,690
12Commercial Pilots$100,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,610 – $163,4101,000
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$99,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,670 – $137,3401,260
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$98,920
Associate's degree
$74,210 – $126,860370
15First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$98,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,220 – $131,900300
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$98,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,300 – $137,9002,720
17Respiratory Therapists$97,950
Associate's degree
$80,250 – $114,590180
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $108,140390
19Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$96,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,940 – $109,970160
20Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$95,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,150 – $103,280520
21Sheet Metal Workers$94,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,300 – $116,580240
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$93,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,730 – $122,6601,200
23Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$92,960
No formal educational credential
$84,450 – $123,880240
24First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$92,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,250 – $121,640310
25Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$92,760
Associate's degree
$77,210 – $127,740230
26Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$92,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $139,750490
27Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$91,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,530 – $122,8801,470
28Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$89,810
Associate's degree
$48,290 – $126,880380
29Electricians$89,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,420 – $123,2001,870
30Real Estate Sales Agents$89,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,420 – $123,120170
31First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$89,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,230 – $107,970130
32Power Plant Operators$88,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,260 – $135,690650
33Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$88,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,360 – $149,370710
34Ship Engineers$88,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,240 – $145,930420
35Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$87,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,200 – $132,200220
36Computer Network Support Specialists$86,110
Associate's degree
$48,410 – $105,540300
37Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$85,470
No formal educational credential
$64,540 – $115,270130
38Legal Support Workers, All Other$85,000
Associate's degree
$50,760 – $129,410110
39First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$83,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,810 – $103,790540
40Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$82,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,800 – $110,0601,430
41Food Service Managers$82,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,180 – $119,440380
42Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$80,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,660 – $109,940790
43Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,400 – $96,700290
44Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$80,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $135,420140
45Surgical Technologists$80,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,840 – $101,060310
46Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$80,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,210 – $98,810120
47Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$80,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,180 – $94,630290
48Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $79,880110
49Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,040
Associate's degree
$48,210 – $137,280160
50Medical Equipment Repairers$78,570
Associate's degree
$63,490 – $99,520160

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	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$137,320	$84,850 – $193,610	320
2	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$134,930	$34,140 – $161,400	570
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$132,690	$60,590 – $138,840	790
4	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,530	$83,680 – $167,880	370
5	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$123,950	$66,800 – $191,690	490
6	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,120	$81,540 – $164,260	170
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,940	$79,680 – $183,680	140
8	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$106,480	$62,280 – $182,740	1,090
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$105,670	$78,170 – $126,540	140
10	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,410	$73,550 – $124,840	270
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,140	$61,530 – $158,480	2,690
12	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,120	$49,610 – $163,410	1,000
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,130	$60,670 – $137,340	1,260
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,920	$74,210 – $126,860	370
15	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,420	$82,220 – $131,900	300
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,110	$60,300 – $137,900	2,720
17	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$97,950	$80,250 – $114,590	180
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,450	$58,530 – $108,140	390
19	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,390	$60,940 – $109,970	160
20	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,850	$56,150 – $103,280	520
21	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,600	$49,300 – $116,580	240
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,920	$53,730 – $122,660	1,200
23	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$92,960	$84,450 – $123,880	240
24	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,760	$49,250 – $121,640	310
25	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$92,760	$77,210 – $127,740	230
26	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,470	$52,040 – $139,750	490
27	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,150	$54,530 – $122,880	1,470
28	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$89,810	$48,290 – $126,880	380
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,440	$58,420 – $123,200	1,870
30	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,170	$52,420 – $123,120	170
31	First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,170	$62,230 – $107,970	130
32	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,870	$43,260 – $135,690	650
33	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,230	$42,360 – $149,370	710
34	Ship EngineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,190	$40,240 – $145,930	420
35	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,670	$62,200 – $132,200	220
36	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$86,110	$48,410 – $105,540	300
37	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$85,470	$64,540 – $115,270	130
38	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$85,000	$50,760 – $129,410	110
39	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,900	$56,810 – $103,790	540
40	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,670	$58,800 – $110,060	1,430
41	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,030	$58,180 – $119,440	380
42	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,840	$49,660 – $109,940	790
43	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,800	$62,400 – $96,700	290
44	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,760	$44,210 – $135,420	140
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,380	$54,840 – $101,060	310
46	Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,210	$62,210 – $98,810	120
47	Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,040	$61,180 – $94,630	290
48	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$49,990 – $79,880	110
49	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,040	$48,210 – $137,280	160
50	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,570	$63,490 – $99,520	160

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Alaska. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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.

High paying jobs in Alaska that need no degree

More for Alaska

Metro areas in Alaska

By field in Alaska

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree