Is Alaska a good state for your salary to go far?

Alaska ranks #3 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 109.5 across 354 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 102.4 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Alaska?

Alaska's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 102.4, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Alaska

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Alaska

Alaska ranks #3 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 109.5, base = 100). Cost of living 102.4 (US = 100); no state income tax.

Does a salary go further in Alaska? (cost of living + state tax)

In Alaska, the cost of living is 102.4 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 109.5 across 354 occupations, ranking it #3 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Alaska ranks #3 of 51 states. Mean across 354 occupations; 100 = the average state, 109.5 means pay goes 9.5% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

109.5

Real pay by occupation in Alaska (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Massage Therapists	$134,930	$131,820	219.7
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other	$74,710	$72,988	177.1
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$168,930	$165,037	174.6
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$66,920	$65,378	168.3
Physical Therapist Aides	$55,760	$54,475	159.3
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	$92,960	$90,818	156.9
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	$78,150	$76,349	148.3
Amusement and Recreation Attendants	$45,680	$44,627	145.1
Industrial Engineers	$156,510	$152,903	144.4
Sheet Metal Workers	$94,600	$92,420	144.2
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	$75,360	$73,623	142.0
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	$94,630	$92,449	141.9
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	$83,520	$81,595	140.8
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$80,840	$78,977	140.1
Construction and Building Inspectors	$102,410	$100,050	139.2
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	$95,850	$93,641	139.2
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	$109,450	$106,928	138.9
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$69,910	$68,299	137.2
Dental Hygienists	$132,690	$129,632	135.3
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	$93,920	$91,755	134.8
Surveying and Mapping Technicians	$76,970	$75,196	134.7
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$97,450	$95,204	134.6
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	$80,770	$78,909	132.9
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$137,320	$134,155	132.7
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$99,130	$96,845	132.0
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals	$50,450	$49,287	130.6
Surveyors	$99,550	$97,256	130.1
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians	$72,520	$70,849	130.1
Emergency Medical Technicians	$57,440	$56,116	129.7
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers	$79,870	$78,029	129.7
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers	$73,690	$71,992	129.5
Chemical Technicians	$79,380	$77,551	129.2
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare	$75,540	$73,799	128.7
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers	$73,500	$71,806	128.3
Machinists	$77,670	$75,880	127.9
Electricians	$89,440	$87,379	126.9
Driver/Sales Workers	$48,420	$47,304	125.8
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other	$61,300	$59,887	125.8
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$114,940	$112,291	125.7
Print Binding and Finishing Workers	$57,200	$55,882	125.6

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 354 BLS publishes for Alaska. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (102.4, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Alaska, a $85,000 salary is worth about $83,041 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $85,000 · BEA cost of living 102.4 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $12,911 gain over Alaska.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Alaska real pay — FAQ

Is Alaska a good state for your salary to go far?: Alaska ranks #3 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 109.5 across 354 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 102.4 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Alaska?: Alaska's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 102.4, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Alaska is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.