So, what’s it like to actually LIVE in Alaska? When you’re looking for Alaska Engineering jobs there, there are several things you should consider first. Let’s take a look!

First of all, let’s discuss the cost of living- it’s perceived to be very high and while it is higher than in other places, it’s getting better, and is by no means out of control. A movie is about $10, the same price as on the West Coast of the mainland US, food is a little more expensive, with a loaf of bread being about 50 cents more on average than in the contiguous US, and gasoline is expensive as well- about a dollar more per gallon than elsewhere in the States. Housing remains expensive, with a 1300 square foot home in Juneau (the state capital) going for about $260k, and with rent for a 2 bedroom apartment coming in at around a thousand dollars a month. Another major consideration is heating- an annual heating oil bill can run about two thousand dollars.

Much like other places in the US with high costs of living, salaries in Juneau are higher to compensate. In fact, many businesses and the Federal government (most notably the Postal Service) pay as much as a 25% salary stipend to help offset the high cost of living in Alaska. You might be able to get a stipend for working Anchorage Alaska Jobs as well, so make sure to ask in the interview!

Even though the states’ transportation infrastructure is relatively scant, that doesn’t mean you won’t need a car, especially if you’re planning to live in the capital of Juneau. There aren’t a lot of roads into or out of Juneau, but the capital itself has a pretty good road network. There’s also a robust public transportation system in the form of a city bus network. Anchorage has an excellent road system and public transportation system as well.

You may have heard that the state of Alaska actually pays its residents to reside there and that is true- as long as you’ve lived in the state for at least 11 months you will receive a government subsidy. There’s a huge general fund called the Alaska Permanent Fund whereby the state gives back money to its residents, based on the price of oil, the stock market, and other things. Since 1990, these checks have almost always been greater than 1,000 dollars. This is in addition to the fact that Alaska has no statewide income tax, and many cities don’t have any sales tax, either!

All of these things make working Anchorage Jobs a pretty attractive proposition!