What does a Dental Hygienist salary really buy you in Alaska?
Alaska is 2.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Alaska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.0, meaning prices are 2.0% higher the national average. A Dental Hygienist earning $129,760 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $127,215 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Alaska's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $58,340 | $57,196 | $-1,143 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $112,470 | $110,264 | $-2,205 |
| Median (P50) | $129,760 | $127,215 | $-2,544 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $132,320 | $129,725 | $-2,594 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $135,400 | $132,745 | $-2,654 |
Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $129,760 keeps most of its value at $127,215 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Dental Hygienist salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Alaska ranks #1 out of 50 states for Dental Hygienist after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Dental Hygienist in Alaska earns a median salary of $129,760 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $127,215 — a -2.0% difference.
Alaska's cost of living is 2.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Alaska is 102.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Dental Hygienist in Alaska: $129,760 x (100 / 102.0) = $127,215. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.