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Surveying and Mapping Technicians Salary in Alaska: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Surveying and Mapping Technicians 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
$76,970
Median annual (2025)
-2.0%
Real Purchasing Power
$75,460
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 Surveying and Mapping Technicians earning $76,970 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $75,460 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) $59,800 $58,627 $-1,172
25th Percentile (P25) $66,470 $65,166 $-1,303
Median (P50) $76,970 $75,460 $-1,509
75th Percentile (P75) $88,930 $87,186 $-1,743
90th Percentile (P90) $103,550 $101,519 $-2,030
Key Insight

Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $76,970 keeps most of its value at $75,460 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 Surveying and Mapping Technicians 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, $76,970 nominal nets out to $75,461 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 Surveying and Mapping Technicians.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Alaska

#1 / 50

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Surveying and Mapping Technicians, Alaska places #1 of 50 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Surveying and Mapping Technicians (After Cost of Living)

Where does Surveying and Mapping Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$75,460
RPP 102.0
$74,912
RPP 97.7
$69,431
RPP 112.5
$68,624
RPP 88.7
5. Montana
$66,810
RPP 90.3
6. Iowa
$66,685
RPP 88.4
7. Ohio
$65,934
RPP 91.5
$64,008
RPP 92.3
9. Wyoming
$63,351
RPP 91.9
10. Utah
$63,068
RPP 94.5

Alaska ranks #1 out of 50 states for Surveying and Mapping Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Surveying and Mapping Technicians take-home pay in Alaska after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Alaska after cost of living?

A Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Alaska earns a median salary of $76,970 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $75,460 — 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 Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Alaska: $76,970 x (100 / 102.0) = $75,460. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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