Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Alaska make a median of $149,940 a year, or about $72.09 an hour. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $282K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $143,745 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $150K get you in Alaska?
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What this looks like in Alaska
Lawyers pay in Alaska tracks closely to the national median, $150K locally vs. $160K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,643/month, 17.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $150K. Top earners bring in $282K or more, a $196K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $154K | +2% | 780 |
| Fairbanks-College | $130K | -14% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $150K, rent takes 17.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,174/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Alaska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $150K locally vs. $160K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for lawyers?
Alaska pays $150K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Alaska?
The median is $149,940 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,230, and experienced lawyers can clear $281,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $150K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,436/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 17.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $143,745 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.