Average RN Salary in Alaska: See How Much AK Nurses Make

Maura Deering, J.D.
By
Updated on June 16, 2023
Average annual registered nurse salaries in Alaska exceed all but four U.S. states. Find out how much you can earn and which cities pay the most.
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Are you a registered nurse (RN) in Alaska or considering a move to the state? Did you know the average RN salary in Alaska is higher than most in U.S. states? Alaska ranks 11th for cost of living, with a regional price parity only slightly above the U.S. average. Adjusted for cost of living, Alaska takes the third spot in the U.S. for top nursing salaries with average annual wages of $94,000.

Keep reading to learn more about RN salaries in Alaska.

  • Average Alaska RN Salary: $97,230 (Ranks 5th among all states)
  • Hourly Alaska RN Salary: $46.74
  • Projected Alaska RN Employment Growth (2018-2028): 6.8%
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Average RN Salaries in Alaska

The U.S. annual mean salary for all RNs totals $82,750, but Alaska RNs average $97,230 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Factors that influence Alaska’s fifth-place ranking for the highest state salaries include cost of living and supply and demand. According to a report from the Bureau of Health Workforce, by 2030, Alaska can expect a shortage of 5,400 RNs (22.7%).

Alaska RNs are well-compensated, with the lowest 10% of earners making $77,450, and the top 10% bringing in $127,020 annually. The median RN salary in Alaska reaches $99,110, as reported by the BLS.

Infographic of registered nursing salary data in Alaska. The average annual RN salary is $97,230. The average hourly RN salary is $46.74. Average RN salaries range from $77,450 among the bottom 10th percentile of earners to $127,020 among the top 90th percentile of earners.
Alaska RN Salary Range
PercentileAverage Annual RN SalaryAverage Hourly RN Salary
10%$77,450$37.24
25%$78,760$37.86
50% (Median)$99,110$47.65
75%$101,650$48.87
90%$127,020$61.07

Source:BLS

Alaska RN Salary, Adjusted for Cost of Living

Alaska’s third-place ranking for average RN salary adjusted for cost of living reflects the price of clothing, education, groceries, housing, transportation, and other metrics. The cost-of-living index (or regional price parity) for Alaska totals 103.2, which exceeds the national average of 100 by just 3.2%.

The $3,000 difference between the adjusted salary of $94,119 and the actual average wage of $97,230 is far less than other high-paying states like California, where the difference adds up to nearly $13,000.

  • Average RN Salary Adjusted for Cost of Living: $94,119 (Ranks 3rd among all states)
  • Cost of Living Index (RPP): 103.2 (3.2% higher/less than the U.S. average)

Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Alaska

Alaska is home to immense mountain ranges and vast open spaces. The largest city, Anchorage, offers urban amenities like galleries and restaurants and a Magnet-designated hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center. Juneau sits on a channel alive with marine life and within sight of two major glaciers. Fairbanks, in the Alaskan interior and 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, serves as the gateway to the remote northern wilderness.

Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Alaska
CityAverage RN Salary
Anchorage, AK$96,160
Juneau$96,380
Fairbanks$89,940

Source:BLS, Indeed

Average Salaries for Other Nursing Roles in Alaska

Alaska nursing assistants in entry-level careers make average salaries of $43,080, and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs) earn $63,650. RNs who pursue a master of science in nursing or a doctor of nursing practice degree can earn incomes of $96,020 for nurse midwives, $113,820 for nurse practitioners, and more than $208,000 for nurse anesthetists.

  • Nursing Assistants: $43,080
  • LPN/LVNs: $63,650
  • Nurse Midwives: $96,020
  • Nurse Practitioners: $113,820
  • Nurse Anesthetists: $208,000




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