Fastest-growing jobs in Alaska
With the country eager to put the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, the American economy continued to boom in 2023. The national unemployment rate remained around 3.6%, while the total number of people employed grew to roughly 152 million, up from 148 million in 2022.
The economy has seen several significant changes in recent years. Many people are leaving expensive coastal states such as California and New York and moving to more affordable places in the Mountain West region and the South, buoyed by companies that have embraced remote work. What's more, in a reversal of past trends, wages grew the fastest for lower-earning workers.
Stacker analyzed jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the fastest-growing jobs in Alaska. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2022 and 2023. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in Alaska.
#38. Retail salespersons
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +0.2% (20 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 8,250
--- Employment in 2022: 8,230
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,330
#37. Office clerks, general
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +1.2% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,080
--- Employment in 2022: 5,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,170
#35. Lawyers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +2.9% (30 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $131,760
#35. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +2.9% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,800
--- Employment in 2022: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,330
#34. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +3.5% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,770
--- Employment in 2022: 1,710
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $70,930
#33. Medical records specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.4% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Employment in 2022: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,280
#32. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.6% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,730
--- Employment in 2022: 2,610
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $80,940
#31. Managers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.8% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Employment in 2022: 1,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $119,530
#30. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.0% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,170
--- Employment in 2022: 3,970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,430
#29. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.1% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,400
#28. Business operations specialists, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.1% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,060
--- Employment in 2022: 1,960
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $85,680
#27. Construction laborers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.7% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,790
--- Employment in 2022: 2,640
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,950
#26. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.7% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,460
--- Employment in 2022: 4,220
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,270
#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,130
--- Employment in 2022: 2,960
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,210
#24. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.8% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,380
--- Employment in 2022: 2,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,790
#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.9% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,250
--- Employment in 2022: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $80,230
#22. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.1% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,270
--- Employment in 2022: 4,920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,950
#21. Medical and health services managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.4% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $123,530
#20. Commercial pilots
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.8% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,660
--- Employment in 2022: 1,540
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $118,540
#19. Financial managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.8% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Employment in 2022: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $127,000
#18. Project management specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.3% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $105,990
#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.6% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Employment in 2022: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,480
#16. Child, family, and school social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.8% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Employment in 2022: 1,480
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $63,360
#15. Childcare workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.0% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Employment in 2022: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,950
#14. Waiters and waitresses
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.4% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,730
--- Employment in 2022: 3,410
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,610
#13. Civil engineers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.4% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Employment in 2022: 1,490
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $103,730
#12. Medical assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +11.5% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,140
--- Employment in 2022: 1,920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,160
#11. Human resources specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.1% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Employment in 2022: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $69,040
#10. Cashiers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.5% (850 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,720
--- Employment in 2022: 4,870
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,220
#9. Firefighters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Employment in 2022: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $58,280
#8. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.0% (820 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,140
--- Employment in 2022: 4,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $64,330
#7. Cooks, restaurant
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.5% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Employment in 2022: 1,820
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,160
#6. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.7% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,930
--- Employment in 2022: 2,350
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $72,380
#5. Construction managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.3% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $131,420
#4. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.9% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 680
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $94,360
#3. Cooks, fast food
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +87.6% (1,130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,420
--- Employment in 2022: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,840
#2. Tour and travel guides
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +88.6% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Employment in 2022: 700
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,800
#1. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +161.9% (680 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Employment in 2022: 420
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
