An Alaska certified teacher must negotiate salary directly with the school district. Unlike other states, Alaska does not mandate a salary schedule that indicates base salary and pay raises for experience. Those interested in becoming a teacher in Alaska should note that this often results in extreme pay differences from district to district.
Recent salary information for Alaska teachers is available through the Association of Alaska School Boards 2009-2010 salary and benefits reports for public school teachers. Entry-level salaries for those with a teaching certification in Alaska range from a low of $31,730 in the Chugach School District to a maximum of $51,500 from the North Slope Borough School District. Average teacher salaries for all experience levels within Alaska school districts ranged from a low of $40,036 per year up to $69,598 per year.
Individuals who are researching teaching requirements in Alaska should think carefully before selecting a teaching specialty. As the following graph from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows, paychecks for Alaska educators can vary widely based on the teaching position. Note that this table does not include pay rates for postsecondary psychology and physics teachers, as these statistics were not available as of 2012.
| Occupation | Annual mean wage in Alaska | Annual mean wage in U.S. |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,700 | $86,620 |
| Education Teachers Postsecondary | $83,660 | $65,050 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers Postsecondary | $85,380 | $68,760 |
| Preschool Teachers Except Special Education | $35,120 | $30,150 |
| Kindergarten Teachers Except Special Education | $68,290 | $52,350 |
| Elementary School Teachers Except Special Education | $72,090 | $55,270 |
| Middle School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $69,680 | $55,780 |
| Secondary School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $69,730 | $56,760 |
| Special Education Teachers Preschool Kindergarten and Elementary School | $74,080 | $56,460 |
| Special Education Teachers Middle School | $68,570 | $58,420 |
| Special Education Teachers Secondary School | $72,450 | $59,080 |
Teaching salaries within the state are generally highest in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest metropolitan area. These are the average teacher salaries for Alaska’s three largest metropolitan areas.
| City | Annual mean wage |
| Anchorage, AK | $62,080 |
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $50,970 |
| Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $52,550 |
Helpful Resources
- Association of Alaska School Boards – AASB Publications
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Salary information for education, training and library positions
- Alaska Teacher Placement – Alaska School District Information
- Alaska Department of Education & Early Development – Quick Facts