Work in Alaska?

Kuniklo · Dec 11, 2011

Even if they do, cost of living in Alaska is crazy expensive.

allnurses Guide · Dec 11, 2011

Even if they do, cost of living in Alaska is crazy expensive.

No, it is not crazy expensive to live in Alaska. Alaska is about 2.5x the size of Texas, and prices/living conditions vary greatly around the state. The bigger cities and the ones closest to Anchorage are going to be the cheapest to live in and the outlying regions without road access are going to be more expensive, but the pay is usually more in those areas also. http://www.anchoragechamber.org/anchorage_info/Relocation.htm http://www.anchoragechamber.org/anchorage_info/Relocation.htm http://www.alaska.net/costofliving.htmlThere is also the permanent dividend fund after you have lived in Alaska for year.

The pay here for any job seems to quite a bit higher than the average US salary. I think 50K would be on the lower median edge for what experienced RNs can make in Alaska.

The worst thing I have found about living in Alaska is traveling in and out of Alaska. That can be expensive and time consuming when flying. Direct flights out of Anchorage are usually ridiculously expensive.

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · Dec 11, 2011

Anyone know the conditions in Alaska. I love living in the southeast but the pay is nil and the conditions are getting worse. People around me are getting let go right and left.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 11, 2011

Depends upon what conditions you're asking about. I have a friend up there who says that he likes the weather up there. Where he's at, they don't get much snow, but it doesn't melt until April or so. Temps can drop below -40F. The schools bring the kids in from recess if the temp gets to -30F or lower. My friend loves working in the hospital there. He's an IT guy. Cars pretty much all have block heaters to keep them warm enough to start.

As to working conditions, I can't say, nor can he, though it appears that RN pay is about $26-$42/hr DOE of course... but that's in Fairbanks. I have no idea about the rest of Alaska.

allnurses Guide · Dec 11, 2011

Depends upon what conditions you're asking about. I have a friend up there who says that he likes the weather up there. Where he's at, they don't get much snow, but it doesn't melt until April or so. Temps can drop below -40F. The schools bring the kids in from recess if the temp gets to -30F or lower. My friend loves working in the hospital there. He's an IT guy. Cars pretty much all have block heaters to keep them warm enough to start.
As to working conditions, I can't say, nor can he, though it appears that RN pay is about $26-$42/hr DOE of course... but that's in Fairbanks. I have no idea about the rest of Alaska.

Alaska weather varies greatly. Fairbanks had about a week of -40 below last month. Fairbanks can easily get -60 below during the winter. I like the Anchorage area. The weather here is pretty mild, and the overall area is pretty much like any other mid size city in the continental US.

allnurses Guide · Dec 11, 2011

Anyone know the conditions in Alaska. I love living in the southeast but the pay is nil and the conditions are getting worse. People around me are getting let go right and left.

Where exactly in the southeast? That covers a lot of area.

tewdles, RN · Apr 4, 2012

I was told when I moved to Fairbanks that Fairbanksans don't want their community to get too big. So I am supposed to tell everyone that it is too dark, too cold, and there is too much snow so they should stay in the lower 48.

Other than that, I would highly recommend it. AK is a beautiful state and has lots of opportunity. AK has not been as troubled by the recession as the lower 48 have been. There are no dumb people in AK, they freeze along the road in the winter.

Okay, that last comment was a bad joke, I will admit...and there is the matter of their recent Governor that would beg argument on the point anyway.

jordan.leona · Apr 24, 2012

Depends on your job somewhat. I know someone making roughly 28$ an hour (who graduated 5 years ago) at a privately owned place, and someone else who makes 40$ an hour (who graduated 7 years ago) at a federal job up here. Mostly, I have heard of pay in between this. I do not think that 50$ an hour is a regular pay for all nurses up here, though it is possible for some.

tewdles, RN · Apr 25, 2012

Many of the RNs in this area make more than $40/hr. Differs dependent upon your employer and your area.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

*** I applied for and was offered an ICU job at Providence. I was very suprised at how low the pay offered was. About 33% less than I make here in the midwest. Their whole nurse pay scale was much lower than I expected, and much lower than RN pay scales here in my area of the the upper midwest Especialy considering how high the cost of living is there. We spent a few weeks looking at houses for sale and rent and found prices to be 50% higher than where I live now in the midwest. In the end the reduction in life style didn't make it worth it for us despite all the great things Alaska has to offer.

tewdles, RN · Apr 26, 2012

*** I applied for and was offered an ICU job at Providence. I was very suprised at how low the pay offered was. About 33% less than I make here in the midwest. Their whole nurse pay scale was much lower than I expected, and much lower than RN pay scales here in my area of the the upper midwest Especialy considering how high the cost of living is there. We spent a few weeks looking at houses for sale and rent and found prices to be 50% higher than where I live now in the midwest. In the end the reduction in life style didn't make it worth it for us despite all the great things Alaska has to offer.

Wow! That was not my experience coming to AK. My salary offer here was 33% higher than in the midwest. It is true that it is more expensive to live here, everything from housing, to gas, to milk. Wasn't it beautiful in that area though? Oh wait, what time of year did you visit?