At a glance
- Minimum wage: $14.00 an hour, rising to $15.00 on July 1, 2027.
- Tipped cash wage: $14.00 (no tip credit).
- Overtime: daily and weekly rules apply.
- Final paycheck if fired: within 3 working days after termination.
- Paid sick leave: Yes. Paid family leave program: No.
What Alaska employers need to know
Alaska surprises employers who assume a small, low-tax state will be light on wage rules. It has daily overtime after 8 hours, no tip credit, a salary test for exempt staff tied to twice the state minimum wage, and, since 2025, a voter-approved paid sick leave law. The minimum wage is rising in steps: $14.00 since July 1, 2026, and $15.00 on July 1, 2027, after which it adjusts for inflation. Seasonal employers in fishing, tourism, and construction feel these rules most because of long summer shifts.
Alaska minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $14.00 |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $14.00 (no tip credit) |
| Next change | $15.00 on July 1, 2027 |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay Washington ($17.13), Hawaii ($16.00). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
Alaska overtime rules
Overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, for employers with 4 or more employees.
Exempt salary test: Exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees must earn at least twice the state minimum wage for a 40-hour week: $1,120 a week in 2026.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
Alaska meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: No state meal break law for adult employees. Federal law doesn't require meal breaks either, but if you give one of 30 minutes or more and the employee is fully relieved of duty, it can be unpaid.
Rest breaks: No state rest break law for adults. Under federal law, short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
Alaska final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | Within 3 working days after termination. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday that is at least 3 days after the employer gets notice. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Not required by state law. Follow your written policy or contract, and apply it consistently. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
Alaska paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: Paid sick leave since July 1, 2025 (Ballot Measure 1). Employees earn 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 employees must allow up to 40 hours a year; employers with 15 or more, up to 56 hours.
Paid family and medical leave: No state paid family leave program. The federal FMLA gives eligible employees of employers with 50 or more employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: No statewide pay transparency law requiring pay ranges in job postings.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: No state income tax on wages, so there is no state withholding.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up Alaska employers
- Daily overtime after 8 hours catches seasonal employers running 10-hour shifts.
- Tipped employees must get the full $14.00 before tips. Alaska allows no tip credit.
- The exempt salary test rises with the minimum wage, so recheck salaried staff each July 1.
Sources and the agency to contact
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
Cite or share this data
Journalists, educators, payroll providers, and HR teams are welcome to quote these figures. Please credit HRTally with a link to this page. Copy the snippet below to add the link.
<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/alaska/">Alaska labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Alaska labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/alaska/
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Alaska in 2026?
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.