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Surveyors Salary in Alaska: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Surveyors 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
$99,550
Median annual (2025)
-2.0%
Real Purchasing Power
$97,598
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 Surveyors earning $99,550 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $97,598 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) $73,520 $72,078 $-1,441
25th Percentile (P25) $81,050 $79,460 $-1,589
Median (P50) $99,550 $97,598 $-1,951
75th Percentile (P75) $126,390 $123,911 $-2,478
90th Percentile (P90) $142,980 $140,176 $-2,803
Key Insight

Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $99,550 keeps most of its value at $97,598 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 Surveyors 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, $99,550 nominal nets out to $97,598 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 Surveyors.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Alaska

#1 / 50

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

Best States for Surveyors (After Cost of Living)

Where does Surveyors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$97,598
RPP 102.0
2. Montana
$93,698
RPP 90.3
$93,626
RPP 112.5
4. Oregon
$91,060
RPP 106.6
$89,470
RPP 88.7
6. Wyoming
$88,411
RPP 91.9
$87,715
RPP 88.0
8. Indiana
$87,701
RPP 91.8
9. Iowa
$87,205
RPP 88.4
$86,462
RPP 109.4

Alaska ranks #1 out of 50 states for Surveyors after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Surveyors take-home pay in Alaska after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Surveyors in Alaska after cost of living?

A Surveyors in Alaska earns a median salary of $99,550 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $97,598 — 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 Surveyors in Alaska: $99,550 x (100 / 102.0) = $97,598. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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