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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary in Alaska: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary really buy you in Alaska?

Alaska is 2.0% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$78,810
Median annual (2025)
-2.0%
Real Purchasing Power
$77,264
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.0)

Alaska Cost of Living Index

Alaska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.0, meaning prices are 2.0% higher the national average. A Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earning $78,810 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $77,264 in an average-cost US state.

AK: 102.0
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $48,760 $47,803 $-956
25th Percentile (P25) $62,440 $61,215 $-1,224
Median (P50) $78,810 $77,264 $-1,545
75th Percentile (P75) $97,710 $95,794 $-1,915
90th Percentile (P90) $98,530 $96,598 $-1,931
Key Insight

Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $78,810 keeps most of its value at $77,264 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Alaska Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.0

With an RPP of 102.0, Alaska is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.0%

After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living, $78,810 nominal nets out to $77,265 in real purchasing power — a small 2.0% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Librarians and Media Collections Specialists.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Alaska

#9 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, Alaska places #9 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (After Cost of Living)

Where does Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$91,102
RPP 109.8
2. Nevada
$87,697
RPP 96.4
$84,352
RPP 105.0
$82,804
RPP 116.6
5. Georgia
$80,114
RPP 95.8
$79,813
RPP 112.5
$79,477
RPP 97.7
$79,285
RPP 98.0
9. Alaska
$77,264
RPP 102.0
10. Virginia
$75,837
RPP 102.1

Alaska ranks #9 out of 51 states for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Librarians and Media Collections Specialists take-home pay in Alaska after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Alaska after cost of living?

A Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Alaska earns a median salary of $78,810 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $77,264 — a -2.0% difference.

Is Alaska expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Alaska: $78,810 x (100 / 102.0) = $77,264. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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