Cost of hiring in the Alaska nonmetro area
BLS counts about 10,230 people in these 16 roles in the Alaska nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($98,020 a year), Data Entry Specialist the lowest ($42,860), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 2,110 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Alaska nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | +18.3% | 470 | |
| Paralegal | +16.7% | 120 | |
| HR Assistant | +15.5% | 110 | |
| Bookkeeper | +13.5% | 1,740 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +10.7% | 120 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +8.3% | 540 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +6.4% | 530 | |
| Recruiter | +3.9% | 440 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +3.7% | 30 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +3.5% | 2,110 | |
| Accountant | +2.6% | 750 | |
| Office Manager | -0.9% | 2,000 | |
| Project Coordinator | -4.2% | 460 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -8.1% | 180 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.7% | 510 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.3% | 120 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $49,190 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $63,471 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Alaska nonmetro area against the US
The Alaska nonmetro area pays above the US median for 11 of the 16 roles, most of all for virtual receptionists (+18.3%) and paralegals (+16.7%), and below it for 4, furthest for marketing specialists (-15.3%). For office managers it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 16 is +3.8%: for most of these roles, hiring costs more here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for virtual receptionists, #14 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #179 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Alaska nonmetro area has more office managers (19.6% of these jobs here, against 9.1% nationally) and bookkeepers (17.0% against 8.7%), and fewer marketing specialists (1.2% against 5.7%) and sales development representatives (1.8% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA is nearest, at +4.0%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | +4.4% | 15 | 2,580 |
| Walla Walla, WA | +4.3% | 13 | 1,740 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +4.0% | 17 | 23,440 |
| Alaska (Nonmetro) | +3.8% (this area) | 16 | 10,230 |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | +3.5% | 17 | 156,430 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | +3.3% | 17 | 121,300 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, project coordinators in the Alaska nonmetro area span $55,320–$165,480, the widest band (3.0×); HR assistants the narrowest, $49,550–$74,800. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 13 of 16 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for data entry specialists, accountants, sales development representatives and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($54,240 against a $42,860 median for data entry specialists).
the Alaska nonmetro area against Alaska
Against Alaska as a whole, the Alaska nonmetro area pays more for 10 of 16 roles, led by paralegals (+6.8%) and customer support specialists (+5.5%), and less for 3, most of all sales development representatives (-7.6%). It has the highest median in Alaska for accountants, recruiters and paralegals and 6 more roles, and the lowest for project coordinators.
Other areas in Alaska
By jobs in these roles, the Alaska nonmetro area is #2 of 3 areas in Alaska. The table shows the other 2.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 17,830 | 17 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | 3,260 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Alaska nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $98,020 a year, about $126,477 with benefits; the lowest is Data Entry Specialist, $42,860.
Is hiring in the Alaska nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 4 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-15.3%). 11 pay more than the US median, led by virtual receptionists (+18.3%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.