2022 Alaska Minimum Wage
The 2022 Alaska Minimum Wage is $10.34.
Effective 2022-01-01Source: Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2021
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2021.
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $10.34 | $10.34 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers in Alaska paying minimum wage to non-exempt employees
What changed this year, and why
The Alaska minimum wage remained unchanged at $10.34 per hour in 2022, the same rate as in 2021. The annual inflation adjustment was not applied because the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Anchorage area declined in the preceding year, meaning there was no inflation to adjust for.
Common questions
- Why did Alaska's minimum wage not increase in 2022?
- Alaska law requires the minimum wage to be adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Anchorage area. Because the index declined in the preceding year, there was no inflation and the wage remained at $10.34.
- Does the Alaska minimum wage apply to commission-based employees?
- Yes. The minimum wage applies to all hours worked in a pay period regardless of whether the employee is paid by time, commission, or otherwise.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Alaska's minimum wage of $10.34 in 2022 is the baseline for most workers in the state. However, certain categories of employees may be paid less than this rate under specific conditions. In Alaska, minors who work for smaller employers may be paid a lower wage. Additionally, workers in certain training or student employment situations may qualify for subminimum wages if their employer obtains proper authorization. These exemptions are limited and require the employer to demonstrate that the specific exemption applies. If an employer cannot clearly show that a worker falls into one of these exempt categories, the full $10.34 per hour must be paid for all hours worked. Workers in Alaska who believe they are being paid below the legal minimum should contact the Alaska Department of Labor's Wage and Hour section to determine if their situation qualifies for an exemption or if their rights are being violated.
All actual hours worked in a pay period multiplied by the Alaska minimum wage is the very least an employee can be compensated by an employer unless the employer can clearly show that a specific exemption exists.
Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers and employers in Alaska who have questions about the state minimum wage or other wage laws can find detailed information on the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development website at the Wage and Hour section's page. The Wage and Hour section administers and enforces the state's minimum wage requirements, including the current rate of $10.34. For specific questions or to file a wage complaint about unpaid wages, individuals should contact the Wage and Hour section of the Alaska Department of Labor directly. Workers who believe their employer is not paying the required minimum wage should reach out to this office to discuss their situation and, if necessary, initiate a formal complaint. The department's Wage and Hour Chief can be contacted by phone or email for assistance with wage questions and complaints.
More information about Alaska's wage laws can be found at: labor.alaska.gov/lss/whhome.htm.
Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Alaska law requires the state minimum wage to stay at least $1 per hour above the federal minimum wage. This means that even if the federal rate were to rise in the future, Alaska's hourly floor would automatically move up to stay above it. For 2022 the Alaska rate is $10.34. If the federal rate were ever higher than Alaska's calculated rate, the higher federal rate would apply to work performed in Alaska, because federal law sets the nationwide floor that employers cannot go below. Workers in Alaska are always entitled to whichever of the two rates—state or federal—is greater for the hours they work.
By law, Alaska's minimum wage must remain at least $1 per hour over the federal minimum wage.
Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
Under federal law, when a state's minimum wage is lower than the federal minimum wage, the higher federal rate applies to workers in that state. Alaska avoids this situation through a statutory guarantee: state law requires that the Alaska minimum wage always remain above the federal floor by a specific margin. Because of this provision, the scenario where the federal rate would override the state rate does not currently arise in Alaska. Employers in Alaska must pay the state rate of $10.34 per hour, which exceeds the federal minimum wage. If the federal rate were ever to increase beyond Alaska's calculated state rate, the federal rate would control for hours worked in Alaska until the state rate was adjusted upward. Workers in Alaska are protected by whichever rate—state or federal—is higher at any given time.
By law, Alaska's minimum wage must remain at least $1 per hour over the federal minimum wage.
Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Each year, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reviews whether the state minimum wage needs to change based on inflation. Alaska Statute 23.10.065(a) directs the department to use the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Anchorage metropolitan area to calculate the annual adjustment. When the index shows that prices have risen over the preceding calendar year, the minimum wage increases accordingly. When the index shows no inflation or a decline, the wage stays at its current level rather than decreasing. The current rate of $10.34 reflects this process. The department announces the adjusted rate before the start of the new calendar year, so that employers and workers in Alaska know what rate applies for the coming year. This cost-of-living adjustment mechanism ensures that the purchasing power of the minimum wage is maintained over time as prices change in the Anchorage area.
Alaska Statute 23.10.065(a) requires the Alaska minimum wage to be adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Anchorage metropolitan area (Anchorage CPI-U) for the preceding calendar year.
Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Alaska Minimum Wage to Remain Unchanged in 2022 (News Release No. 21-28) (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
- Hourly
The Alaska minimum wage will remain unchanged at $10.34 in 2022.
Other years
Every Alaska Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state