2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Alaska

Salary Report for Alaska Social Workers

Alaska Rankings

Compare Alaska to U.S.

Alaska Social Workers earn an average of $61,580 which is 12% more than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Alaska	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$29.61	$26.39	12.20%
Average Annual Salary	$61,580	$54,880	12.21%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Alaska, 50% of Social Workers earn between $48,080 and $75,840 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $83,290, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $39,000, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	143	Under $39,000
15%	2 – 4 years	214	$39,000 – $48,080
25%	5 – 9 years	358	$48,080 – $60,250
25%	10 – 14 years	358	$60,250 – $75,840
15%	15 – 20 years	214	$60,250 – $83,290
10%	20+ years	143	Above $83,290

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Alaska psychologists earn about $59,647 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Alaska is 3% higher than the national average, which means Alaska residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $61,580, Alaska Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($113,040), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($92,450), School Psychologists ($87,670), Psychology Teachers ($84,880), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($65,090).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Health Care Social Workers ($60,320).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$113,040
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$92,450
School Psychologists	$87,670
Psychology Teachers	$84,880
Substance Abuse Counselors	$65,090
Social Workers	$61,580
Health Care Social Workers	$60,320

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Alaska the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (1,030), Substance Abuse Counselors (730) and Health Care Social Workers (230).

The three professions in Alaska needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Psychology Teachers (25%), Health Care Social Workers (15%) and Substance Abuse Counselors (10.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	950	1,030	8.4%	100
Substance Abuse Counselors	660	730	10.6%	70
Health Care Social Workers	200	230	15%	20
Psychology Teachers	40	50	25%	0
Forensic Psychologists	30	30	0%	0

Salaries Ranked by Alaska Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Alaska is $61,580. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Anchorage ($64,260), Fairbanks ($60,970) and Alaska Nonmetropolitan Area ($58,550).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Anchorage ($61,623), Fairbanks ($58,727) and Alaska Nonmetropolitan Area ($57,965).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Social Workers in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Anchorage	$64,260	$61,623	$-2,637
Fairbanks	$60,970	$58,727	$-2,243
Alaska Nonmetropolitan Area	$58,550	$57,965	$-585

Salary FAQ for Alaska Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data