A November 2018 report by the National Academy for State Health Policy revealed the critical need for healthcare workers in Alaska. Since 2016, 96 percent of the state has been designated a federal Health Professional Shortage Area.
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According to the University of Alaska Anchorage’s College of Health, Alaska is headed toward a major nursing shortage (the fifth largest in the nation) by 2030, thanks to what many call the “Silver Tsunami” – the fastest growing senior population in the U.S. By 2026, the Alaska Department of Labor projects that the state will need to fill more than 10,000 healthcare jobs – that’s more than 20 percent since 2016.
But where’s there’s need, there’s opportunity. With a focus on creating a well-educated nursing workforce in Alaska, the state’s primary nursing school started a new DNP program in 2015. Obtaining a DNP provides a significant economic benefit, helping to offer the assurance of higher salaries. The Advance Healthcare Network surveyed nurse practitioners throughout the country in 2018 and determined that NPs with a Doctor of Nursing Practice earned $7,683 more than NPs with a master’s degree.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APNs and More in Alaska
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 2018):
- Nurse-Midwives: $108,840-$124,160
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $130,340-$187,660
- Nurse Practitioners: $145,060-$166,590
- Nurse Educators: $99,080-$115,490
Salaries for DNP Nurses in Anchorage and Fairbanks
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the state’s most populated cities (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Anchorage: $129,170-$201,320
Nurse Practitioners:
- Anchorage: $139,180-$167,930
- Fairbanks: $133,940-$159,640
Nurse Midwives
- Anchorage: $108,640-$124,110
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Alaska’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report found that 78% of APRNs are paid overtime for their work, revealing that hourly wages in this field are still quite commonplace. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse-Midwives: $52.33-$59.69
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $62.66-$90.22
- Nurse Practitioners: $69.74-$80.09
Salary and employment data compiled by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development in May of 2018 – (http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.