What share of people in Alaska are working?

65.3% of residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force in September 2026, and 62.5% had a job; 10th highest of 51 for labor force participation (50 states and DC combined: 61.6%).

Economy, jobs and prices in Alaska, United States: official figures

The economy of Alaska (gross domestic product) was worth $73.6 billion in 2025 at current prices, 0.2% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 3rd smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 6.5% on 2024.

GDP (current dollars)

$73.6 billion

2025

GDP per resident

$99,875

2025

Personal income per person

$80,510

2025

Median household income

$95,665

2024

Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)

4.3%

September 2026

Average annual pay (QCEW)

$75,391

2025

Median household income

$96,336

2024

Median gross rent (monthly)

$1,444

2024

How fast is the economy of Alaska growing?

After adjusting for inflation, real GDP in Alaska grew 4.7% in 2025, against 2.3% for the United States; 2nd fastest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the GDP per capita of Alaska?

Dividing 2025 GDP by the Census Bureau's population estimate gives $99,875 of output per resident, against $90,294 for the US economy divided by the population of the 50 states and DC; 10th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is the economy of Alaska growing or shrinking?

In the second quarter of 2026, real GDP in Alaska shrank at an annual rate of 1.3% (United States: 2.2%); 3rd slowest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What are the main industries in Alaska?

In 2025 the largest private industry in Alaska's economy was mining, oil and gas (14.4% of GDP), followed by transportation and warehousing (13.8%) and real estate, rental and leasing (9.8%). Government accounted for 18.5% and manufacturing for 2.0%; the manufacturing share was 3rd lowest of 51 (United States: 9.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How much do people in Alaska spend?

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in Alaska came to $70,227 per person in 2025 (United States: $61,062); 5th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is Alaska expensive to live in?

Prices in Alaska were 2.4% above the national average in 2024, by BEA's regional price parity of 102.4 (US = 100), which covers goods, services and housing; 14th most expensive of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the inflation rate in Alaska?

Prices in Alaska rose 1.7% in 2024, measured by BEA's implicit regional price deflator, against 2.6% nationally (PCE price index).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the per capita income in Alaska?

Personal income per person in Alaska was $80,510 in 2025, against $77,028 for the United States; 13th highest of 51. It was up 4.8% on 2024 and up 30.1% on 2020, before inflation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the disposable income per person in Alaska?

After taxes, disposable personal income per person was $73,491 in 2025 (United States: $67,251); 11th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How far does income go in Alaska?

Adjusted for local price levels, real personal income per person in Alaska was $60,272 in 2024 in 2017 dollars (United States: $59,195); 18th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the median household income in Alaska?

Median household income in Alaska was $95,665 in 2024 (margin of error ±$3,278), against $81,604 for the United States; 12th highest of 51 by the point estimate. It was up 7.3% on 2023 after adjusting for inflation (American Community Survey).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Alaska?

The Gini index of household income inequality in Alaska was 0.440 in 2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 means one household has everything; United States: 0.481); 4th least unequal of 51.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Alaska?

The unemployment rate in Alaska was 4.3% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), down from 4.7% a year earlier; tied for 16th highest of 51. The rate for the 50 states and DC combined was 4.2%.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many people are unemployed in Alaska?

In September 2026, 15,762 people in Alaska were unemployed and 349,435 employed, out of a labor force of 365,197.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What was the unemployment rate in Alaska in 2025?

Over 2025 the unemployment rate in Alaska averaged 4.7% (an 11-month average: October 2025 was not collected during the federal shutdown), against 4.5% in 2024; tied for 8th highest of 51. The lowest annual rate since 1976 was 4.3% in 2023.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the average salary in Alaska?

Workers covered by unemployment insurance in Alaska were paid $75,391 on average in 2025 ($1,450 a week), up 4.9% on 2024; the US average was $78,720. That is 16th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many jobs are there in Alaska?

Employers in Alaska had an average of 332,544 jobs on their payrolls in 2025 across 25,169 establishments, up 1.0% on 2024 (United States: up 0.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median wage in Alaska?

The median annual wage across all occupations in Alaska was $61,000 in May 2025 (mean $74,720); 4th highest of 51. One in ten workers earned less than $34,930 and one in ten more than $128,720.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the most common job in Alaska?

The most common occupation in Alaska in May 2025 was retail salespersons, with 7,890 workers and a median annual wage of $37,290.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median household income in Alaska?

Median household income in Alaska was $96,336 in 2024, 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $81,604). In 2019 it was $77,203, so it has risen 24.8% before allowing for inflation.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Alaska?

The median gross rent in Alaska, including utilities, was $1,444 a month in 2024, up 5.2% on 2023 ($1,373); 21st highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $1,487).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the median home value in Alaska?

Homeowners in Alaska valued their homes at a median of $376,500 in 2024, up 8.3% on 2023 ($347,500); 21st highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $360,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Alaska?

The median home value in Alaska was 3.9 times the median household income in 2024 ($376,500 against $96,336); 20th lowest ratio among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 4.4).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is rent affordable in Alaska?

A household on the median income in Alaska would spend 18.0% of its income on the median rent of $1,444 a month in 2024 (U.S.: 21.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Alaska compares with other states

Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) (2025)

Alaska ranks 49 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars)
45	Rhode Island	$88.2 billion
46	North Dakota	$82.3 billion
47	South Dakota	$82.0 billion
48	Montana	$80.9 billion
49	Alaska	$73.6 billion
50	Wyoming	$52.5 billion
51	Vermont	$49.7 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) (2025)

Alaska ranks 10 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population)
7	Connecticut	$103,727
8	North Dakota	$103,020
9	Nebraska	$102,386
10	Alaska	$99,875
11	Illinois	$97,568
12	Colorado	$95,610
13	New Jersey	$92,980

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2025 (2025)

Alaska ranks 2 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025
1	Delaware	5.1%
2	Alaska	4.7%
3	California	3.5%
4	South Carolina	3.3%
5	Washington	3.2%
6	Idaho	3.1%
7	Kentucky	3.0%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) (2026:Q2)

Alaska ranks 49 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate)
45	Montana	0.1%
46	Nebraska	-0.1%
47	Kansas	-0.6%
48	North Dakota	-0.9%
49	Alaska	-1.3%
50	Wyoming	-1.6%
51	West Virginia	-2.3%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Personal income per person, 2025 (2025)

Alaska ranks 13 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Personal income per person, 2025
10	Colorado	$86,342
11	Maryland	$82,387
12	Virginia	$80,903
13	Alaska	$80,510
14	South Dakota	$78,999
15	Illinois	$78,987
16	Florida	$78,345

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) (2024)

Alaska ranks 18 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars)
15	Virginia	$61,914
16	Maryland	$61,111
17	Illinois	$60,333
18	Alaska	$60,272
19	Iowa	$60,144
20	Montana	$59,203
21	Kansas	$59,172

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Median household income, 2024 (ACS) (2024)

Alaska ranks 12 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median household income, 2024 (ACS)
9	Colorado	$97,113
10	Utah	$96,658
11	Connecticut	$96,049
12	Alaska	$95,665
13	Virginia	$92,090
14	Delaware	$87,534
15	Minnesota	$87,117

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) (2024)

Alaska ranks 14 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100)
11	Florida	103.4
12	Oregon	103.4
13	Colorado	103.1
14	Alaska	102.4
15	Rhode Island	102.3
16	Virginia	101.1
17	Arizona	100.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) (September 2026)

Alaska ranks 18 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted)
15	Florida	4.4%
16	New York	4.3%
17	Massachusetts	4.3%
18	Alaska	4.3%
19	New Jersey	4.2%
20	Oklahoma	4.2%
21	Colorado	4.1%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average (2025)

Alaska ranks 9 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average
6	Oregon	5.2%
7	Delaware	4.8%
8	Washington	4.7%
9	Alaska	4.7%
10	Illinois	4.6%
11	Ohio	4.6%
12	Kentucky	4.6%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Labor force participation rate, September 2026 (September 2026)

Alaska ranks 10 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Labor force participation rate, September 2026
7	Kansas	66.4%
8	South Dakota	66.3%
9	Massachusetts	65.4%
10	Alaska	65.3%
11	Colorado	65.2%
12	Wisconsin	64.9%
13	New Hampshire	64.8%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) (2025)

Alaska ranks 16 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW)
13	Texas	$77,964
14	Minnesota	$76,940
15	Delaware	$75,665
16	Alaska	$75,391
17	Pennsylvania	$74,308
18	Oregon	$73,706
19	Georgia	$73,032

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) (May 2025)

Alaska ranks 4 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS)
1	District of Columbia	$91,540
2	Massachusetts	$63,590
3	Washington	$62,990
4	Alaska	$61,000
5	Colorado	$59,800
6	Connecticut	$59,690
7	New York	$59,670

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median household income (2024)

Alaska ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates

Rank	Region	Median household income
8	Washington	$99,309
9	Colorado	$96,871
10	Utah	$96,398
11	Alaska	$96,336
12	Connecticut	$95,670
13	Virginia	$92,116
14	Delaware	$87,510

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent (monthly) (2024)

Alaska ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Renter-occupied units paying cash rent

Rank	Region	Median gross rent (monthly)
18	Delaware	$1,530
19	Georgia	$1,506
20	Texas	$1,475
21	Alaska	$1,444
22	Rhode Island	$1,418
23	Idaho	$1,384
24	North Carolina	$1,338

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2024)

Alaska ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Owner-reported value

Rank	Region	Median value of owner-occupied homes
18	Virginia	$403,500
19	Florida	$396,900
20	Connecticut	$396,900
21	Alaska	$376,500
22	Delaware	$371,600
23	Vermont	$352,800
24	Minnesota	$344,600

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Alaska: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), Appendix Table 1: median household income and Gini index by state, 2023 and 2024 American Community Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5de1b0d5ec46…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SASUMMARY: State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (updated 30 September 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3757d207c05…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SAGDP: Annual GDP by state, 1997-2025 (table SAGDP2, GDP in current dollars by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d3c5bc7bd24…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SQGDP: Quarterly GDP by state, 2005-2026 Q2 (table SQGDP11, percent change in real GDP at annual rate), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1649260cdceb…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, monthly, seasonally adjusted, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bb6f18d4145…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, annual averages 1976-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 262aba7d00df…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 74d5be0e1df8…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, all industries (open data CSV slice), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5f89142aae…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median gross rent (B25064), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8624f9775add…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median value of owner-occupied homes (B25077), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27120d5d8a5f…)
U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.