In a few weeks, on July 1, Alaska’s minimum wage will increase by more than a dollar to $13 per hour.
Since 2014, Alaska’s minimum wage has increased from $7.75 to $11.91 through the Alaska Wage and Hour Act. A ballot measure, the Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Sick Leave Initiative, was supported by around 58% of voters in the Nov. 5 election and calls for an increase of the minimum wage to $13 per hour on July 1.
Further annual increases are also described by the initiative, which will lift the minimum wage to $14 per hour on July 1, 2026, and then $15 per hour on July 1, 2027. After that, the minimum wage will be adjusted each year for inflation.
A release from the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development on Wednesday describes the upcoming increase to the minimum wage, which “applies to all hours worked in a pay period, regardless of how the employee is paid.” Salaried employees, per state statute, are required to make at least twice the minimum wage, and so the minimum weekly salary will also increase on July 1 from $952.80 per week to $1,040 per week.
Statewide wage data provided by the department’s Research and Analysis division last year shows that workers making close to minimum wage were most commonly employed in maintenance, construction, office support or food service jobs, like waiters and dishwashers.
More information about Alaska’s minimum wage can be found on the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development website at labor.alaska.gov.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
