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Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Alaska

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Discover the best places to live in Alaska and find a job that suit your skills and lifestyle needs. Alaska is the biggest state in the United States and 5% of it is covered by glaciers. There are over 3,000 rivers here, more than 3 million lakes and the territory has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the country. Alaska’s economy is mainly driven by its oil and gas industry, tourism, agriculture, and fishing sectors. Moreover, its forests are a renewable economic resource that creates numerous jobs and contributes millions of dollars to the state’s finances.

One of the most enticing reasons to live and work in Alaska, is the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD): a dividend program which pays Alaska residents over $1,000 per year just for living there. To be eligible you must first be a resident for the entire calendar year preceding the date of your application to the dividend program.

Do you need more good reasons to find a job in one of the best places to live in Alaska? Consider the following as well:

  • Alaska has no state income, inheritance, or sales tax.
  • You can see the spectacular Norther Lights from this stunning landscape.
  • It is the number one U.S. state for both fishing and hunting.
  • There are plenty of winter sports to enjoy, including skiing, ice skating and snowboarding.
  • Summer days are basically endless with up to 24 hours of daylight.
  • There is pretty good diversity in Alaskan residents are diverse, including an indigenous population, and a high number of military bases.

Mayor employers offering jobs in Alaska include:

  • Alaska Federal Credit Union
  • Chenega Corporation
  • Travel Impressions

In this article we’ll review the top locations for work in Alaska, the flourishing industries, highly requested jobs, and related average salaries. We’ll also talk about what it’s like to live in these locations according to the real estate market, entertainment and leisure hotspots, and median household income.

Now that you know the benefits of this great State, take a look at our list of the best places to live in Alaska, along with their most profitable industries, popular jobs, housing prices and average income:

Anchorage

Alaska’s largest city accounts for nearly 40% of the state's population. The U.S. Census Bureau reports a median house value of $320,000 and a median household income of $84,813. Both of these are higher than the state and national average. Some of the fun things you can do when living in Anchorage include moose watching in the wild or at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, dog sledding, and flightseeing. It’s the home of the fourth busiest cargo airport in the world, a big port, and a large military installation. Industries with most employers in Anchorage include healthcare, social services, sales, and administration.

Browse all Anchorage, AK jobs on Monster.

Juneau

Among the best places to live in Alaska is, of course, the capital city, Juneau. It’s a hot spot for tourists and residents alike thanks to its opportunities for glacier and wildlife viewing, whale watching, fishing, and hiking. It can’t be reached by car, you’ll need to travel by plane or the three-day ferry. Downtown Juneau is rich in history, public art and galleries, like the Alaska State Museum, as well as local businesses serving tourists and residents alike. Its average housing value is $355,100 and the median household income is $88,077. It is a great destination for those looking for government jobs and employment opportunities in fishing, mining, manufacturing, goods-production tourism and service sectors.

Browse all Juneau, AK jobs on Monster.

Fairbanks

Residents of Fairbanks’ median income is $64,397 and the average home value is $217,700. This area’s economy is greatly supported by the military, the University of Alaska, and the mining and tourism industries. Its summer days are incredibly long, allowing you to enjoy adventures like visiting The antique Auto Museum, taking a Riverboat Discovery boat tour or experiencing a live mining museum at the Gold Dredge 8. Its job variety is one of the factors that puts it among the best places to live in Alaska. There are numerous jobs here in professional and business services, construction, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, transportation, educational and health services as well.

Browse all Fairbanks, AK jobs on Monster

Kodiak

The main city of Kodiak Island, the second largest island in the U.S. after Hawaii's Big Island, Kodiak is a known commercial fishing center and hot spot for outdoor adventures. There is also a strong U.S. Coast Guard presence here and many job opportunities in the government and military sectors. One of the key tourist attractions is the possibility of glimpsing the Kodiak bears, a subspecies of brown bear exclusive to the area. These impressive bears can stand up to 11 feet tall and weight 1500 lbs. If you’re enticed to live and work here, you should also know that the average household income is $69,259 and the median house value is $260,800.

Browse all Kodiak, AK jobs on Monster

Finding Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Alaska is Easier When You Join Monster

Hop on Monster’s train to Alaska and create a free profile today. Upload your resume and be among the first to apply to new job listings thanks to our custom notification system. Hiring professionals browse our candidate database daily, sending job proposals to those matching their company needs. The next to be contacted could be you!