Get Paid To Move To Alaska: Is It For Real?

Would you like to get paid to move to Alaska?

Alaska, the largest state in the USA, is known for its wide open spaces and breathtaking nature. It is a fantastic place for outdoor enthusiasts to live.

There’s no shortage of the amazing things you can see living here.

It’s one of the best places to see the Northern Lights (wow!), it has 3 million lakes and 100,000 glaciers (omg!), and let’s not forget all those grizzly bears roaming around (yikes! But also excitingggg!).

With remote work becoming so common, many people across the U.S. are considering relocating to more nature-esque places for a better work-life balance.

Sounds like my kinda people, amirite? All those glaciers to gaze at while I work on my blog. Pure bliss!

Some states and towns are using this as an opportunity to lure more young people in and boost their economies.

Some of these states offer cold, hard cash as incentives, and people are taking the bait.

Alaska, however, isn’t paying you a relocation incentive to move there. But you do still get paid to move to Alaska. Read on to find out how!

Affiliate Link Disclosure

Some of the links here are affiliate links, and I may earn if you click on them AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

How To Get Paid To Move To Alaska?

If you’re wondering can you get paid to move to Alaska, you can’t. But you do get paid for LIVING in Alaska. Say whaaaatttt??!!

Well, the money you get paid for living in Alaska comes from the Alaska Permanent Fund.

The state began to earn huge revenues when the largest oil field in North America was discovered in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Oil is a nonrenewable resource that will eventually run out. Therefore, revenue from oil production was invested in various investments.

The Alaskans, with wonderful forward-thinking, voted to save some of that money so that politicians wouldn’t waste it.

At least 25% of the returns from these investments are placed in the Alaska Permanent Fund, now worth about 78 billion USD!

Since 1983, a portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund has been distributed annually as a dividend to all Alaskan residents.

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

Eligibility Requirements

It sounds wonderful and all, Alaska money for residents!

But how do you qualify for it?

Well, there are some pretty clear-cut requirements for you to be eligible for it.

Mainly, you need to be living there.

To qualify for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, you need to:

Have been a resident of Alaska for the entire previous calendar year
Have the intention to remain in Alaska indefinitely (this must be true as of the date you apply for the dividend. If plans change in the future, that’s alright)
Have not claimed residency in any other state or country
Not been incarcerated or sentenced due to a felony conviction (basically, don’t break the law!)
If you were out of Alaska for more than 180 days in the previous calendar year, it has to be for an allowable absence.

If you meet all the requirements above, you need to apply for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend between January 1 to March 31.

Applications received after this date are not considered, so make sure to apply on time!

How Much Do You Get Paid To Live In Alaska Per Year?

That sounds pretty easy-peasy if you’re already planning on moving to Alaska. So how much do you get paid and how often do you get paid to live in Alaska?

In 2023, residents received 1312 USD (Whooo!). The highest they’ve ever received was 2072 USD in 2015!

That’s a solid sum of cash, you guys!

As long as you remain a resident of Alaska, you get your dividend paid annually!

Pros And Cons Of Living In Alaska

USD $1312 sounds like a great deal, but is it worth living in Alaska for? Are there benefits to moving to Alaska?

Let me break it all down for you!

PROS	CONS
Nature, Wildlife and Outdoor Activities	Cost Of Living
Tax Breaks	Home Prices
Jobs	Transportation
	Jobs
	Weather

Pros!

Let’s hit the pros first:

1. Nature, Wildlife, And Outdoor Activities

Alaska is HUGE! But most of it is untamed, untouched wilderness.

Ice caves, glaciers, snow-capped mountains. What can’t you find here in Alaska?

Not to mention the wildlife: the iconic brown bear, caribou, Alaskan moose, and mountain goats. And then there is all the marine life: whales, sea lions, and seals.

Just witnessing all of this in Alaska would be so, so amazing!

If you’re a fan of outdoor activities, there is plenty to do here.

Skiing, snowboarding, dog-sledding, and all that hiking!

I would consider moving to Alaska just for all of this. But the sensible thing would be to look at other factors, too, so read on.

2. Tax Breaks

One amazing thing about living in Alaska is that you get to save some money on taxes.

Alaska is one of the few states without a state income tax. You will still have to pay your federal income tax, but at least you don’t have to pay any for the state.

This wasn’t always the case. Since 1980, Alaska has removed state income tax since their oil fields produce more revenue than needed. I found that fantastic!

There is also no state sales tax, meaning you don’t have to pay taxes on things you buy. Imagine buying a car and not having to pay taxes! You could save thousands of dollars!

Some municipalities in Alaska still charge sales tax, but Anchorage and Fairbanks do not.

If you’re a senior (65 years or older), you can also save on property tax!

In Alaska, the first $150,000 of the appraisal value of your home is not taxed for seniors. You will still need to pay taxes on the remainder.

For example, if your home costs USD $363,000, you don’t pay taxes on $150,000 and only pay taxes on $213,000. That’s a pretty significant saving. But this is only for seniors!

3. Jobs

The biggest job industries in Alaska fall under these categories:

Oil and Gas

Exploring and extracting oil from the largest oil field in North America sure would require a lot of hands, making this the largest industry in Alaska.

Fishing

Alaskan Salmon, need I say more? But yes, I need to say more.

Alaska consistently ranks as the state with the highest revenue from fishing. It makes sense that there should be many jobs in the fishing industry.

Having said that, many of these jobs can be seasonal to match the fishing seasons.

Jobs on board shipping boats can also be dangerous.

If you’ve watched ‘Deadliest Catch’ on the Discovery Channel, you’d see how dangerous life on board a boat on the Bering Sea can be!

Construction

Road building and an increase in healthcare facilities for the aging population, in turn, create more jobs in the construction industry.

Transportation

All of that oil, gas, and fish have to be transported somehow, which is why jobs in transportation are booming.

They’re so booming that reality TV shows have been made about them.

Have you watched Ice Road Truckers? You really should. It will make you appreciate your Alaska salmon all the more.

Healthcare.

With the fastest-growing aging population in the U.S., the need for well-trained healthcare staff is also growing.

If you work in one of these fields, you might find a job sooner rather than later.

However, if you work outside these fields, stay strong and bring enough savings.

I put ‘Jobs’ under both pros and cons, because if you do work in one of the relevant fields, getting a job should be pretty easy. But if you work outside of those, getting a job can be a real challenge!

Cons!

Now let’s go on to the cons:

1. Cost Of Living

Do you get paid for living in Alaska? Yes. But you also need to pay to live in Alaska!

The cost of living in Alaska is 30% higher than the national average! In fact, Alaska is the sixth most expensive state to live in.

This comes down to several factors.

Firstly, groceries. Since everything needs to be shipped into Alaska, groceries are considerably more expensive than in the other American states (not including Hawaii, where everything needs to be shipped in as well).

Home prices are expensive, too, as I’ll mention in my next segment.

Utilities in Alaska cost considerably more than the national average.

When you consider the harsh winters and all that heating you will require during winter, that utility bill is starting to look grim!

Transportation, as I will mention later, also costs slightly more than the national average.

When you take into account the fact that to get anywhere you might need to take more than one mode of transport, it makes sense that it’ll be expensive to travel around.

Gas is also quite expensive in Alaska. That’s weird, considering a lot of gas comes from Alaska itself!

2. Home Prices

Home prices in Alaska are slightly higher than the national average.

The average home price in Alaska is USD $349,502, while the national average is USD $347,716.

This varies depending on where you live. Fairbanks is considerably cheaper than Anchorage.

If you’re looking for cheaper homes, stay far away from Juneau, the capital city. Home prices are tripping there!

If you’re looking to rent first, I’m happy to tell you that the average rent in Alaska is cheaper than the national average.

The national average rent for an apartment is USD $1713, while the average in Alaska is USD $1470. That’s not too bad.

Renting first while you figure out if Alaska is where you want to live is not a bad decision.

3. Transportation

Did you know that only 20% of Alaska is accessible by road??

This is partly because of the terrain and climate, which make road maintenance particularly challenging (okay, that makes sense).

There are public transportation options if you’re living in a major city like Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Did you also know that the capital city of Alaska (Juneau) is inaccessible by road?? You have to get in by plane or ferry.

Alaska does have other ways of getting around, though.

They have a very well-developed Alaska Marine Highway, a ferry route mainly serving the southern areas of Alaska.

Many of the communities in the south of Alaska have no road access, so the ferry system is their main mode of transport.

If you’re used to getting in the car and just driving to the next city, living in Alaska might come as a bit of a shock.

Getting from city to city might not be as simple as boarding a bus. Sometimes, it involves taking more than one mode of transport.

Have you seen Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock traveling to Alaska in The Proposal? That would be a pretty accurate way of traveling within Alaska!

4. Weather

When I think of the weather in Alaska, the first thing that pops into my mind is, ‘BRRRR!!’.

And who wouldn’t think that? Alaska is, after all, the coldest state in the U.S.!

It is also the largest, so temperatures can vary widely across the state.

Winter stretches from October to March, but temperatures vary depending on which part of Alaska you live in.

January is the coldest month, and temperatures can drop to around -6°C around the coast. Temperatures in the interior can drop to about -34°C (OMG, I would be frozen already!)!

In summer, which is usually from May to September, temperatures vary across the state as well.

July is Alaska’s hottest month. The average daily temperature in the interior is around 21°C, while the coastal areas hover around 19°C in summer. That doesn’t sound too bad.

Spring and autumn are very short in Alaska. They come with warm days and cold nights. There can also be a lot of rain and wind in spring and fall.

Stock up on warm woolen underwear and dress in layers, and hopefully, the winters in Alaska won’t be too bad.

But if you’re someone who cannot handle mild winters, Alaska might just freeze your bones up!

After reading all that, I’m not sure if the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend can make up for all the additional costs of living in Alaska.

But the nature and wildlife opportunities in Alaska definitely make it up for me!

FAQs On Get Paid To Move To Alaska

How Much Can I Get Paid To Move To Alaska?

Well, how much can you get paid to move to Alaska? Alaskan residents got paid $1312 in 2023, but the highest they’ve ever been paid was $2072 in 2015!

Can I Move To Alaska Without A Job?

If you’re thinking of moving to Alaska without a job, make sure to have enough savings for your basic necessities.

If you work in one of Alaska’s major industries, three months of savings could probably tide you over until you find a job. If not, having more savings before moving to Alaska would be best.

How Long Do I Have To Live In Alaska To Get Oil Money?

How long do you have to live in Alaska to get oil money?

If you were an Alaskan resident for an entire calendar year, then you will qualify to receive the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend in the following year.

Can you get paid for living in Alaska? Yes, you can! But does that money make up for the high cost of living, home prices, and harsh weather?

You make the choice! But whatever it is, you must admit that the Alaska stipend for residents is a nice sum of money that residents look forward to each year.

Related Posts