(11 27 2024) Alaska's minimum wage will increase in 2025

Alaska's minimum wage will increase in 2025

Nov. 27, 2024
No. 24-26

JUNEAU - The Alaska minimum wage will increase from $11.73 to $11.91 in 2025. In 2014, Alaska voters passed a ballot initiative to annually adjust the minimum wage for inflation.

Alaska Statute 23.10.065(a) requires the Alaska minimum wage to be adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Anchorage metropolitan area (Anchorage CPI-U) for the preceding calendar year. The "Urban Alaska CPI-U" the current name for what was formerly titled the "Anchorage CPI-U," rose 1.5 percent in 2023 (climbing from 256.423 in 2022 to 260.372 in 2023). Applying that percentage increase to the current minimum wage of $11.73 produces a new minimum wage effective Jan. 1, 2025, of $11.91.

The Alaska minimum wage applies to all hours worked in a pay period, regardless of how the employee is paid- whether by time, piece, commission or otherwise. All actual hours worked in a pay period multiplied by the Alaska minimum wage is the very least an employee can be compensated by an employer unless the employer can clearly show that a specific exemption exists.

Salaried Employees, who are exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements under Alaska Statute 23.10.055(b), as bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees, must maintain a salary that is equivalent to two times the minimum wage for the first 40 hours worked. Meaning, effective Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum salary for these workers will increase from $938.40 /week or $48,796.80 per year in 2024, to $952.80 per week or $49,545.60 per year.

Additionally, due to the passage of Ballot Measure 1, on July 1, 2025, the Alaska minimum wage will increase to $13, and will subsequently increase to $14 on July 1, 2026, and $15 on July 1st, 2027. Thereafter the minimum wage shall be adjusted annually for inflation.

More information about Alaska's wage laws can be found at: https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/whhome.htm.

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