High paying jobs in Anchorage, AK that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Anchorage, AK, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Anchorage, AK run 5.4% above the national average (2024), so a Anchorage, AK salary is worth about 0.95× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Anchorage, AK

OccupationMedian, Anchorage, AK · Employed

1Air Traffic Controllers$160,970
Associate's degree
$86,570 – $213,530280
2Dental Hygienists$132,740
Associate's degree
$60,590 – $139,940490
3Transportation Inspectors$131,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$95,320 – $168,960110
4Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$115,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,240 – $132,370570
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$108,750
Associate's degree
$78,170 – $125,20080
6Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$103,110
Associate's degree
$49,220 – $130,270160
7Computer Network Support Specialists$102,330
Associate's degree
$48,410 – $103,340180
8Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$101,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,610 – $103,010350
9Commercial Pilots$99,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,570 – $163,530590
10Electrical and Electronics Drafters$98,920
Associate's degree
$59,720 – $166,97060
11Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$98,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $107,940260
12Sheet Metal Workers$98,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,300 – $116,580160
13Respiratory Therapists$97,950
Associate's degree
$79,950 – $105,870130
14Power Plant Operators$96,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,950 – $135,690150
15Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$94,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,940 – $107,680100
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$94,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,510 – $120,2201,010
17Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$93,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,730 – $116,790640
18Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$92,860
No formal educational credential
$52,560 – $93,27060
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$92,570
Associate's degree
$77,210 – $130,530130
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$92,260
Associate's degree
$70,590 – $122,910200
21Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$92,250
No formal educational credential
$83,460 – $123,620160
22Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$90,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,990 – $115,14060
23Pile Driver Operators$89,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $121,73080
24Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$87,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,200 – $132,200190
25Real Estate Sales Agents$86,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,420 – $123,120100
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$85,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,070 – $105,140330
27Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$84,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,000 – $100,24060
28Public Safety Telecommunicators$83,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $103,020140
29Electricians$82,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,550 – $123,200930
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$82,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,640 – $94,310160
31Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,380 – $143,460300
32Surgical Technologists$80,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,930 – $103,150210
33Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$80,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $99,530150
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$80,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,900 – $109,260540
35Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $79,880100
36Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,040
Associate's degree
$48,210 – $137,520140
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,410 – $108,850150
38Medical Equipment Repairers$78,570
Associate's degree
$62,330 – $99,520120
39Physical Therapist Assistants$77,570
Associate's degree
$65,670 – $87,85080
40Surveying and Mapping Technicians$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,320 – $103,550220
41Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,080 – $99,79090
42Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$76,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,840 – $107,110980
43Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$75,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $105,87080
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$75,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $102,090590
45Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$75,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,220 – $97,37060
46Home Appliance Repairers$75,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $76,32060
47Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$74,710
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $83,68070
48Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$74,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $97,400410
49Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$74,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,680 – $96,200250
50Sailors and Marine Oilers$73,320
No formal educational credential
$43,360 – $101,20080

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

#	Occupation	MedianAnchorage, AK	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$160,970	$86,570 – $213,530	280
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$132,740	$60,590 – $139,940	490
3	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,060	$95,320 – $168,960	110
4	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,020	$80,240 – $132,370	570
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$108,750	$78,170 – $125,200	80
6	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$103,110	$49,220 – $130,270	160
7	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$102,330	$48,410 – $103,340	180
8	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,020	$59,610 – $103,010	350
9	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,920	$58,570 – $163,530	590
10	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$98,920	$59,720 – $166,970	60
11	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,690	$58,530 – $107,940	260
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,070	$49,300 – $116,580	160
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$97,950	$79,950 – $105,870	130
14	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,630	$42,950 – $135,690	150
15	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,370	$60,940 – $107,680	100
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,120	$54,510 – $120,220	1,010
17	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,600	$53,730 – $116,790	640
18	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$92,860	$52,560 – $93,270	60
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$92,570	$77,210 – $130,530	130
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$92,260	$70,590 – $122,910	200
21	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$92,250	$83,460 – $123,620	160
22	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,000	$51,990 – $115,140	60
23	Pile Driver OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,880	$58,330 – $121,730	80
24	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,670	$62,200 – $132,200	190
25	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,380	$52,420 – $123,120	100
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,620	$58,070 – $105,140	330
27	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,190	$64,000 – $100,240	60
28	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,870	$47,340 – $103,020	140
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,440	$58,550 – $123,200	930
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,330	$66,640 – $94,310	160
31	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,530	$57,380 – $143,460	300
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,880	$58,930 – $103,150	210
33	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,740	$46,800 – $99,530	150
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,360	$48,900 – $109,260	540
35	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$49,990 – $79,880	100
36	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,040	$48,210 – $137,520	140
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,720	$53,410 – $108,850	150
38	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,570	$62,330 – $99,520	120
39	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,570	$65,670 – $87,850	80
40	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$59,320 – $103,550	220
41	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$65,080 – $99,790	90
42	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,520	$59,840 – $107,110	980
43	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,970	$45,440 – $105,870	80
44	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,840	$37,200 – $102,090	590
45	Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,810	$62,220 – $97,370	60
46	Home Appliance RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,650	$34,670 – $76,320	60
47	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$74,710	$30,580 – $83,680	70
48	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,480	$47,840 – $97,400	410
49	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,000	$46,680 – $96,200	250
50	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$73,320	$43,360 – $101,200	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Anchorage, AK. 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.

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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Anchorage, AK that need no experience

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