
Fastest-growing jobs in Alaska
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in Alaska. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. 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.

#50. Stockers and Order Fillers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +0.8% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,680
--- Employment in 2023: 6,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,560

#49. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +1.8% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,780
--- Employment in 2023: 2,730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,730

#48. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +2.2% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,680
--- Employment in 2023: 3,600
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,720
#47. Cashiers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,950
--- Employment in 2023: 5,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,050

#46. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.3% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,920
--- Employment in 2023: 2,800
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,660
#45. Business Operations Specialists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.9% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,160
--- Employment in 2023: 2,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $90,150
#44. Waiters and Waitresses
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.7% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,980
--- Employment in 2023: 3,730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,370
#43. Registered Nurses
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.8% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,040
--- Employment in 2023: 6,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $110,690

#42. Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.9% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,540
--- Employment in 2023: 1,440
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,900

#41. First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.1% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,550
--- Employment in 2023: 2,380
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,010

#40. First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.9% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,190
--- Employment in 2023: 2,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,030

#39. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.2% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,170
--- Employment in 2023: 2,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,000

#38. Financial Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.3% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,090
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $122,770

#37. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.4% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $109,770

#36. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.9% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,540
--- Employment in 2023: 4,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,650

#35. Carpenters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.3% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,700
--- Employment in 2023: 2,470
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,150

#34. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.9% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,220
--- Employment in 2023: 5,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,370

#33. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.9% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,220
--- Employment in 2023: 5,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,370

#32. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.6% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,150
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,740

#31. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.9% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,510

#30. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.0% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,240
--- Employment in 2023: 2,920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,890

#29. Cooks, Restaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.2% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,480
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,640
#28. First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.3% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,720
--- Employment in 2023: 5,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,030

#27. Construction Laborers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.5% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,110
--- Employment in 2023: 2,790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,970

#26. Medical and Health Services Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.5% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,450
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $122,020

#25. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.6% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,380
--- Employment in 2023: 3,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,290

#24. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.9% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,260
--- Employment in 2023: 2,020
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,160

#23. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.3% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,820
--- Employment in 2023: 1,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $81,860

#22. Commercial Pilots
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.7% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,870
--- Employment in 2023: 1,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $110,930
#21. Medical Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.1% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,420
--- Employment in 2023: 2,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,860

#20. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.4% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,350
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $85,840
#19. Dental Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.9% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,950
#18. Childcare Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.6% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,980

#17. Construction Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,600
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $135,630

#16. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.9% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,040
--- Employment in 2023: 2,600
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,020
#15. Customer Service Representatives
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.1% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,540
--- Employment in 2023: 2,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,760
#14. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.3% (860 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,320
--- Employment in 2023: 4,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,280

#13. Bartenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.7% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,070
--- Employment in 2023: 1,730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,860

#12. Cooks, Fast Food
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.1% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,930
--- Employment in 2023: 2,420
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,820
#11. Project Management Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.4% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,590
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $105,360

#10. Computer User Support Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.1% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,600

#9. Tour and Travel Guides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,650
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,000

#8. Tour and Travel Guides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,650
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,000
#7. Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.5% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,670

#6. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.2% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,590
--- Employment in 2023: 1,250
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,900

#5. Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.7% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $98,930

#4. Dishwashers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.0% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,080
#3. Managers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.9% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,780
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $123,160

#2. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.0% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,980

#1. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +47.3% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $226,490
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.