Healthcare careers in Alaska are seeing tremendous growth over the next decade and in the latest annual report from the Alaska Department of Labor, health science jobs collectively are among the state’s fastest-growing careers. In a bit of even better news for anybody thinking about going into the medical field industry, (as reported by the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey), healthcare professionals in the United States of America are eligible for over a million unfilled medical field jobs at the moment.
Starting a career in healthcare in Alaska
The swift expansion of the healthcare marketplace in Alaska contributes to the 18% growth rate that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts for the country through 2026. The historic growth in the healthcare system is being pushed by the country’s need to take care of its’ aging population. Because of these conditions, there is an immense range of employment possibilities for individuals from all backgrounds.
The Best Healthcare Schools in Alaska
| School Name / Website | Address | School Type |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Career College | 1415 E Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99507-1033 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Alaska Christian College | 35109 Royal Place, Soldotna, Alaska 99669 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Alaska Pacific University | 4101 University Dr, Anchorage, Alaska 99508 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Ilisagvik College | Narl Facility, Barrow, Alaska 99723 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 1731 South Chandalar Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Alaska Southeast | 11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, Alaska 99801-8697 | 4-year, Public |
Alaska Support roles in healthcare
Probably the largest segment of the healthcare workforce in Alaska is made-up of the 8,620 Healthcare Support workers who are presently employed in the state. These working people receive an annual median salary of $43,970, which places them close to the top of all positions that don’t call for a college degree.
In the table shown below, you’ll find educational prerequisites and job and salary statistics for ten popular healthcare occupations in Alaska.
Healthcare Career Salaries in Alaska
| Career in Medical Field | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 70 | 39.76 | 82710 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 440 | 23.28 | 48420 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 680 | 19.06 | 39640 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 520 | 27.20 | 56580 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 680 | 26.04 | 54170 |
| Home Health Aides | 1620 | 15.55 | 32350 |
| Nursing Assistants | 1850 | 18.24 | 37950 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | - | 29.40 | 61150 |
| Dental Assistants | 1300 | 22.07 | 45900 |
| Medical Assistants | 1610 | 20.22 | 42060 |
| Phlebotomists | 170 | 20.81 | 43290 |
Finding an entry-level Healthcare Career in Alaska
Regardless of the potential for getting an entry-level job with no prior professional training, the majority of facilities in Alaska prefer to find candidates who hold some kind of credential. Therefore, it’s strongly recommended that anyone who is interested in a career in healthcare complete a professional, formal training course.
Almost all of these courses can be finished in two years or less, and some can be finished in less than one year.
Where to find medical field careers in Alaska
To find available training programs for some of Alaska’s entry-level healthcare occupations, click any of the links shown below. Click on the career titles shown below for additional information about that occupation.
- CNA programs in Alaska
- Dental assistant schools in Alaska
- EMT classes in Alaska
- HHA courses in Alaska
- LPN training in Alaska
- Medical assistant schools in Alaska
- Medical billing & coding classes in Alaska
- Pharmacy tech programs in Alaska
- Phlebotomy certification in Alaska
- Ultrasound tech programs in Alaska
- Patient care tech programs in Alaska
The healthcare labor marketplace in Alaska
There are healthcare opportunities all around the State of Alaska. but the Anchorage area is the place where the greatest volume of professionals work in the industry. About 5,160 medical field personnel are employed in and around Anchorage, representing the state’s greatest concentration of industry workers.
The following list shows all of the towns and cities in the state where you can find a large quantity of healthcare positions.
- Anchorage, AK
- Fairbanks, AK
- Juneau, AK
- Barrow, AK