Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/10/2025
State Salary Study Reveals Disturbing Trend of Below Market Wages
Nearly a year overdue, study shows public employee salaries aren’t competitive
Juneau – Yesterday afternoon, the State of Alaska released its long-awaited Salary Study. ASEA’s initial review of the study shows a persistent and disturbing trend of below-market salaries across public sector positions..
“This study confirms what we have known for a very long time. Not only are Alaska’s state employees the only ones in the nation without a pension, salaries have fallen miserably behind. It’s no wonder so many of our friends, neighbors, and colleagues are leaving the state and public service,” said Heidi Drygas, Executive Director of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52.
For highly populated jobs studied (more than 100 employees classified in the position), 83% are below market. In just a few examples, the following positions would need significant raises to be competitive with the market:
- Criminal Justice Technician, 18%
- Medicaid Program Specialist, 26%
- Wildland Firefighter, 37%
- Petroleum Economist, 41%
- Emergency Management Specialist, 55%
Even worse, non-union employees' salaries across the board are lower than their union counterparts.
“Growing up in Fairbanks in the 80s and 90s as the daughter of two public employees, I saw state service jobs as something to be proud of. These jobs were enviable and came with a measure of respect and admiration. Those days are long gone,” Drygas said.
ASEA continues its legal battle for all drafts of the salary study. Public transparency, and state statute, demand the state release all drafts of the study.
ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 is an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and represents more than 1.4 million public service workers across the country. AFSCME Local 52 is the largest public employee union of state and municipal workers in Alaska representing more than 8,000 Alaskans working for Alaska. ASEA members provide the critical services Alaskans rely on every day. Alaska works because we do.
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Salary Study Lawsuit & Timeline:
- October 2023: State of Alaska issues request for proposals
- June 2024: Original date Salary Study due from Contractor to Administration
- February 11, 2025: ASEA files Preliminary Injunction urging release of the study
- March 5, 2025: Oral Arguments heard by Judge Wheeles in Anchorage Superior Court, after granting expedited consideration
- March 31, 2025: Date Department of Administration officials gave to Administration officials and Legislators for release of the study
- April 2, 2025: HR 5 introduced by House State Affairs Committee urging release of the study
- April 7, 2025: APEA/AFT joins as a plaintiff in salary study lawsuit
- April 9, 2025: State of Alaska releases salary study
TAGS: Salary study; public employees; ASEA; AFSCME; recruitment; retention; wages
pdf Press Release--ASEA Responds to Disturbing Trends in SOA Salary Study (Apr. 10, 2025)(277 KB)
pdf Press Release--APEA/AFT Joins ASEA Salary Study Suit (Apr. 8, 2025)(228 KB)
pdf Press Release--ASEA Files Suit to Compel Release of Salary Study (Feb. 11, 2025)(223 KB)
pdf Alaska Superior Court Filing for Release of SOA Salary Study (Feb. 11, 2025)(3.84 MB)