Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Microbiologists salary really buy you in Alaska?
Alaska is 2.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Alaska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.0, meaning prices are 2.0% higher the national average. A Microbiologists earning $76,320 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $74,823 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) | $62,060 | $60,843 | $-1,216 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,400 | $63,137 | $-1,262 |
| Median (P50) | $76,320 | $74,823 | $-1,496 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $87,330 | $85,617 | $-1,712 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $93,920 | $92,078 | $-1,841 |
Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $76,320 keeps most of its value at $74,823 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.0, Alaska is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Microbiologists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living, $76,320 nominal nets out to $74,824 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 Microbiologists.
Alaska's rank of #29 of 42 states means real purchasing power for Microbiologists trails the national half-way line.
Where does Microbiologists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Alaska ranks #29 out of 42 states for Microbiologists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Microbiologists take-home pay in Alaska after taxes →
A Microbiologists in Alaska earns a median salary of $76,320 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $74,823 — 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 Microbiologists in Alaska: $76,320 x (100 / 102.0) = $74,823. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.