Plumber in Alaska: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Skilled trades

Alaska employs 1,200 plumbers, with a statewide median of $93,920 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Alaska licensing picture, and where to train.

What Plumbers Earn in Alaska (May 2025)

Alaska median pay: $93,920 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $53,730
Experienced (75th percentile): $102,820
Top earners (90th percentile): $122,660
Employed in Alaska: 1,200
U.S. median (for comparison): $62,970 (May 2024)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for plumbers in major Alaska markets:

Fairbanks: $96,670 (200 employed)
Anchorage: $93,600 (640 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Alaska

Prices in Alaska run about 2% above the national average (cost-of-living index 102.4 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $93,920 median is worth closer to $91,719 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in Alaska (2024–2034)

Alaska is projected to shrink plumbers employment -0.7%, slower than the +4.5% projected nationally. The state expects about 100 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Alaska License and Certification Requirements

Plumber Journeyman Certificate of Fitness — regulated by the Alaska Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development — Mechanical Inspection.

Register as a trainee and accumulate about 8,000 hours of experience.
Pass the Certificate of Fitness exam.
Apply to the Alaska Dept. of Labor; licensure is mandated from the trainee level up.

Official requirements: Alaska Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development — Mechanical Inspection →

Training in Alaska

UA Locals and PHCC contractors offer earn-while-you-learn apprenticeships. Alaska licenses plumbers statewide via Certificates of Fitness.

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who want durable demand and do not mind dirty, physical work.

Think twice if: You need clean environments, predictable hours, or low physical strain.

Why it's resilient: Plumbing is local, licensed, physical, urgent, and full of unpredictable building-specific constraints.

First Steps

Search state plumbing apprenticeship requirements and local union/non-union programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do plumbers make in Alaska?

The median wage for plumbers in Alaska is $93,920 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $53,730, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $122,660. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

What license or certification do you need to become a Plumber in Alaska?

Plumber Journeyman Certificate of Fitness, overseen by the Alaska Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development — Mechanical Inspection. Register as a trainee and accumulate about 8,000 hours of experience.

Is being a Plumber a good career in Alaska?

Plumbing is local, licensed, physical, urgent, and full of unpredictable building-specific constraints.

Which Alaska metros pay plumbers the most?

Among Alaska metro areas, Fairbanks leads at $96,670, followed by Anchorage ($93,600). Local pay tracks regional demand and cost of living, so the highest-paying metro isn't always the best net move.

Is Plumber a growing career in Alaska?

Alaska projects plumbers employment to change -0.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 100 openings a year — a declining field in the state.

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Alaska statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2152. Licensing summary compiled from the Alaska Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development — Mechanical Inspection (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Alaska wages · Alaska licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities.

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.