Jobs that actually got a raise in Alaska

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Manicurists and Pedicurists$47,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,020 – $59,620+70.1%+114.2% nominal
2Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$72,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,950 – $102,070+54.1%+94.0% nominal
3Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$66,920
Bachelor's degree
$38,250 – $132,530+53.1%+92.9% nominal
4File Clerks$49,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,370 – $65,030+51.3%+90.5% nominal
5Sheet Metal Workers$94,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,300 – $116,580+49.3%+88.1% nominal
6Amusement and Recreation Attendants$45,680
No formal educational credential
$32,720 – $54,500+44.7%+82.2% nominal
7Business Teachers, Postsecondary$168,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,170 – $332,000+40.4%+76.7% nominal
8Medical Transcriptionists$48,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,400 – $54,660+31.7%+65.8% nominal
9Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$92,960
No formal educational credential
$84,450 – $123,880+30.4%+64.2% nominal
10Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$124,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,680 – $167,880+29.2%+62.7% nominal
11Massage Therapists$134,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,140 – $161,400+27.8%+60.9% nominal
12Sailors and Marine Oilers$63,130
No formal educational credential
$40,200 – $91,730+25.8%+58.5% nominal
13Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,180
No formal educational credential
$35,640 – $38,840+25.6%+58.2% nominal
14Rehabilitation Counselors$61,590
Master's degree
$44,030 – $103,400+22.5%+54.3% nominal
15Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$56,730
Bachelor's degree
$40,820 – $81,620+21.7%+53.2% nominal
16Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$232,140
Bachelor's degree
$59,130 – $369,150+21.7%+53.3% nominal
17Petroleum Engineers$206,290
Bachelor's degree
$129,150 – $277,360+21.2%+52.6% nominal
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $108,140+19.8%+50.9% nominal
19Tire Repairers and Changers$43,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,660 – $56,990+19.7%+50.7% nominal
20Computer Network Support Specialists$86,110
Associate's degree
$48,410 – $105,540+19.3%+50.3% nominal
21Driver/Sales Workers$48,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,800 – $61,760+18.8%+49.6% nominal
22Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$34,680
No formal educational credential
$28,040 – $49,420+17.9%+48.5% nominal
23Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$40,210
No formal educational credential
$35,660 – $58,330+17.0%+47.3% nominal
24Tour and Travel Guides$44,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,410 – $58,890+16.8%+47.1% nominal
25Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$38,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,010 – $60,130+16.7%+47.0% nominal
26Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$46,130
Associate's degree
$35,090 – $76,950+16.3%+46.4% nominal
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,930 – $102,080+15.6%+45.5% nominal
28Respiratory Therapists$97,950
Associate's degree
$80,250 – $114,590+13.9%+43.4% nominal
29Transportation Security Screeners$71,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,180 – $87,510+13.1%+42.4% nominal
30Dishwashers$33,890
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $36,440+12.4%+41.6% nominal
31Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$80,770
Master's degree
$58,240 – $114,650+12.2%+41.3% nominal
32Physical Therapist Aides$55,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $72,290+12.0%+41.1% nominal
33Counter and Rental Clerks$43,450
No formal educational credential
$35,490 – $62,400+11.2%+40.0% nominal
34Construction Managers$139,190
Bachelor's degree
$98,810 – $213,710+10.7%+39.4% nominal
35Lawyers$149,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,230 – $281,780+10.6%+39.3% nominal
36First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$46,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,840 – $66,210+10.3%+38.9% nominal
37Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$91,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,530 – $122,880+8.8%+37.1% nominal
38Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,280
No formal educational credential
$24,830 – $45,170+8.7%+36.8% nominal
39Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$70,700
Associate's degree
$50,840 – $100,530+8.3%+36.4% nominal
40Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $109,160+8.0%+36.0% nominal
41Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$80,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $135,420+8.0%+36.0% nominal
42Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$76,360
Bachelor's degree
$50,570 – $281,730+7.6%+35.4% nominal
43Tellers$46,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,440 – $49,680+7.5%+35.4% nominal
44Power Plant Operators$88,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,260 – $135,690+7.0%+34.8% nominal
45Psychiatric Technicians$51,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,270 – $77,830+6.8%+34.5% nominal
46Forest and Conservation Technicians$68,160
Associate's degree
$50,290 – $97,820+6.6%+34.3% nominal
47Cashiers$36,130
No formal educational credential
$30,780 – $45,430+6.3%+33.9% nominal
48Machinists$77,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,900 – $105,540+6.3%+33.8% nominal
49Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$48,580
No formal educational credential
$37,990 – $58,710+6.0%+33.5% nominal
50Helpers--Production Workers$42,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $63,760+6.0%+33.5% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,890	$28,020 – $59,620	+70.1%+114.2% nominal
2	Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,520	$55,950 – $102,070	+54.1%+94.0% nominal
3	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$66,920	$38,250 – $132,530	+53.1%+92.9% nominal
4	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,910	$34,370 – $65,030	+51.3%+90.5% nominal
5	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,600	$49,300 – $116,580	+49.3%+88.1% nominal
6	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$45,680	$32,720 – $54,500	+44.7%+82.2% nominal
7	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$168,930	$63,170 – $332,000	+40.4%+76.7% nominal
8	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,360	$33,400 – $54,660	+31.7%+65.8% nominal
9	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$92,960	$84,450 – $123,880	+30.4%+64.2% nominal
10	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,530	$83,680 – $167,880	+29.2%+62.7% nominal
11	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$134,930	$34,140 – $161,400	+27.8%+60.9% nominal
12	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$63,130	$40,200 – $91,730	+25.8%+58.5% nominal
13	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,180	$35,640 – $38,840	+25.6%+58.2% nominal
14	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$61,590	$44,030 – $103,400	+22.5%+54.3% nominal
15	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$56,730	$40,820 – $81,620	+21.7%+53.2% nominal
16	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$232,140	$59,130 – $369,150	+21.7%+53.3% nominal
17	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$206,290	$129,150 – $277,360	+21.2%+52.6% nominal
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,450	$58,530 – $108,140	+19.8%+50.9% nominal
19	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,330	$34,660 – $56,990	+19.7%+50.7% nominal
20	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$86,110	$48,410 – $105,540	+19.3%+50.3% nominal
21	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,420	$35,800 – $61,760	+18.8%+49.6% nominal
22	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$34,680	$28,040 – $49,420	+17.9%+48.5% nominal
23	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$40,210	$35,660 – $58,330	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
24	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,210	$33,410 – $58,890	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
25	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,730	$33,010 – $60,130	+16.7%+47.0% nominal
26	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$46,130	$35,090 – $76,950	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,610	$36,930 – $102,080	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
28	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$97,950	$80,250 – $114,590	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
29	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,390	$54,180 – $87,510	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
30	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$33,890	$27,040 – $36,440	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
31	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$80,770	$58,240 – $114,650	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
32	Physical Therapist AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,760	$35,700 – $72,290	+12.0%+41.1% nominal
33	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$43,450	$35,490 – $62,400	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
34	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$139,190	$98,810 – $213,710	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
35	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$149,940	$86,230 – $281,780	+10.6%+39.3% nominal
36	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,570	$35,840 – $66,210	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
37	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,150	$54,530 – $122,880	+8.8%+37.1% nominal
38	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,280	$24,830 – $45,170	+8.7%+36.8% nominal
39	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$70,700	$50,840 – $100,530	+8.3%+36.4% nominal
40	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,390	$47,360 – $109,160	+8.0%+36.0% nominal
41	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,760	$44,210 – $135,420	+8.0%+36.0% nominal
42	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$76,360	$50,570 – $281,730	+7.6%+35.4% nominal
43	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,770	$42,440 – $49,680	+7.5%+35.4% nominal
44	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,870	$43,260 – $135,690	+7.0%+34.8% nominal
45	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,650	$40,270 – $77,830	+6.8%+34.5% nominal
46	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,160	$50,290 – $97,820	+6.6%+34.3% nominal
47	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$36,130	$30,780 – $45,430	+6.3%+33.9% nominal
48	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,670	$50,900 – $105,540	+6.3%+33.8% nominal
49	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$48,580	$37,990 – $58,710	+6.0%+33.5% nominal
50	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,530	$37,210 – $63,760	+6.0%+33.5% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Alaska

More for Alaska

Metro areas in Alaska

By field in Alaska

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state