Employment fell 0.3 percent in Alaska’s only large county equivalent, Anchorage Municipality, from September 2024 to September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the rate of employment change in Anchorage ranked 223rd among the 364 largest U.S. counties with published data. (See table 1.)

Employment in Anchorage stood at 150,300 in September 2025, accounting for 43.9 percent of total employment in Alaska. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.2 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

The average weekly wage in Anchorage increased 4.0 percent over the year to $1,492. The national average was $1,459, up 4.7 percent over the year. Anchorage’s weekly wage ranked 75th nationally, and the percent change ranked 177th among the largest U.S. counties.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 small county equivalents in Alaska, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) These smaller county equivalents include 17 boroughs, 11 census areas, and 1 municipality. Wage levels for 21 of 29 smaller counties were below the national average. North Slope Borough reported the highest average weekly wage ($2,522). Kusilvak Census Area reported the lowest average weekly wage ($868) in the state.

Among all 30 Alaska counties, 5 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,150, 9 had wages from $1,150 to $1,324, 8 had wages from $1,325 to $1,499, and 8 had average weekly wages of $1,500 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)