In the news, you will sometimes hear about the top paying jobs in Alaska. At others times, you might find an article that talks about the fastest growing Alaska industry or occupation. However, you rarely see these two topics linked together when it comes to occupations.
If you did find those two topics linked, they would be talking about Alaska’s “Top Jobs”.
What does an occupation need to have to be considered a “Top Job” in Alaska? For an occupation to be ranked as a “Top Job” in Alaska it must meet the following two criteria:
- The job needs to rank in the top two wage quartiles, which means it must have earnings above $54,370 annually.
- The occupation also needs to have a projected growth of at least 75 jobs and greater percentage growth than all occupations combined, or be amongst one of the 50 occupations with the most projected openings (of those with wages in the top two quartiles).
Why is it important to keep track of these type of occupations? The reason behind why you should track what type of jobs pay the most is obvious; higher paying jobs lead to greater job security, better quality of life, and higher satisfaction. The real question is; why is it important to track the type of occupations that not only have high earnings but also have good projected growth? High salary is a great incentive; however if the growth rate in that particular occupation is low, then the likelihood of attaining a job in that field decreases.
It’s not only important to know which jobs pay the best, it is as equally important to know which occupations are projected to grow the most in the upcoming years. This combined knowledge will let you know which of those high paying jobs are more secure and more readily available now and in the future.
Where can you find information on “Top Jobs” in Alaska? The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education has put together a “Top Jobs” list based on 2015 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) wage estimates for Alaska (click here for “Top Jobs for Alaska” list).
Another place to find specific information on Alaska occupations is by visiting the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Research and Analysis webpage. On this webpage, you can click on Alaska Occupations Information and find a long list of occupation with the average monthly wage, along with an employment outlook. If you would like more details on a specific occupation, click on the ones you want to learn more about and it will bring you to a page that shows the growth forecast, wages, licensing information and the typical education/training needed.
The more information you can gather, the better prepared you will be to make an informed decision about which occupation would be the best for you.
If you have any questions, please come by the ACPE Success Center located at the Dimond Center Mall. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 1 (800) 441-2962, option #4.