EconomyAnchorage · June 14, 2026
the raise you voted for
Starting July 1, Alaska's minimum wage rises to $14 an hour, with another increase already locked in for 2027.
Daily Alaska staff · June 14, 2026 · Anchorage
Alaska's minimum wage rises to $14 an hour on July 1, 2026, under Ballot Measure 1, the wage increase measure Alaska voters passed in November 2024. The wage climbed to $13 an hour in 2025 and is now entering its second consecutive annual increase. A further step is already set: the minimum wage rises to $15 an hour on July 1, 2027, and from 2028 onward it adjusts annually for inflation.
The increase applies to every hour worked statewide, regardless of how a worker is paid, affecting hourly employees in places like Wasilla, Anchorage and Fairbanks. For a full time worker, the change means an extra two dollars an hour compared to last year's rate.
The raise takes effect automatically on July 1 for anyone currently earning under $14 an hour. No application or paperwork is required.
For small business owners in food service and retail, the increase means recalculating labor costs just as the summer tourist season begins. Alaska's cost of living remains among the highest in the country, and the ballot measure's staged approach was designed to raise wages gradually over several years rather than all at once.
In this story
Questions people ask
When does Alaska minimum wage go to 14 dollars
July 1, 2026. That's the second step of wage hikes Alaska voters approved in November 2024.
What ballot measure raised Alaska minimum wage
Ballot Measure 1, passed by Alaska voters in November 2024.
Will Alaska minimum wage go up again after 14
Yes. It rises to 15 dollars an hour on July 1, 2027, then adjusts annually for inflation starting 2028.
Do Alaska workers need to do anything for wage increase
No. The raise takes effect automatically for anyone earning under 14 dollars an hour.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Alaska's minimum wage increases to $14 an hour on July 1, 2026. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The wage increase stems from Ballot Measure 1, passed by Alaska voters in November 2024. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The minimum wage will rise to $15 an hour on July 1, 2027, then adjust annually for inflation starting 2028. · alaskasnewssource.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →