Fairbanks Employment

Employment and Industries in the Fairbanks, Alaska Area

Fairbanks is a prominent business, trade and services center. Due to the Fairbanks International Airport the city is the freight distribution and supply center for the region. The major elements of the economy include federal, state and city government agencies; communications, transportation, tourism, and financial. Additional sectors significantly contributing to the economy are manufacturing, education, construction, medical services, and mining. The state's oil revenue is also a prominent factor for Fairbanks's economy.

Including employees at Fort Wainwright and Eilson Air Force Base, more than on-third of the workforce is employed by the government. In addition, the two military bases have a major impact on the economy. The Fort Knox hard rock gold mine and the University of Alaska Fairbanks also have a large number of employees. Many Fairbanks residents also hold commercial fishing permits.

Notable information regarding Fairbanks: The average earnings in 2009 was $29,000. About 20% of the population over the age of 25 have a bachelors degree or higher. The daytime population rises by about 37% due to people commuting to Fairbanks from surrounding areas. The personal tax amount is very low. Residents receive distributions from the Permanent Fund which provides residents 25% of Alaska's royalty oil revenue.

The Governor's Office of International Trade offers a variety of assistance and information to companies interested in foreign trade and investments. The Small Business Development Center provides advice, seminars and workshops for new and established companies. The Chamber of Commerce provides the "School Business Partnership" which helps businesses and schools work together.

Fairbanks major industries for employment are shown below:

  • Government
  • Trade
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • Health services
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Construction
  • Professional and business services

Besides Fort Wainwright and Eilson Air Force Base, the largest employers in Fairbanks are:

  • Banner Health System
  • Alyeska Pipeline Service
  • Tanana Chiefs Conference
  • Fairbanks Gold Mining
  • Petro Star
  • University of Alaska
  • Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
  • Donyon, Ltd
  • Dena' Nena' Henash
  • Interior Alaska McDonald's Inc
  • Borough of Fairbanks North
  • Fairbanks Resource Agency
  • City of Fairbanks
  • Golden Valley Electric Association
  • Tanana Valley Medical & Surgical Group
  • Tatonduk Outfitters Limited
  • Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Denali Center

Helpful business organizations for Fairbanks companies:

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner provides information about the current business activities in Fairbanks.

Jobs in Fairbanks

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations33480$57,150$27.47100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations4620$45,420$21.8413.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations3370$29,470$14.178.7
4Sales and Related Occupations3350$36,110$17.369.5
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations2920$50,900$24.476.7
6Construction and Extraction Occupations2280$67,130$32.274.6
7Management Occupations2030$97,120$46.696.35
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations2000$63,250$30.416
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations1970$100,080$48.115.85
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations1890$64,070$30.83.75
11Retail Salespersons1570$28,420$13.662.7
12Business and Financial Operations Occupations1240$75,270$36.195.35
13Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations1120$35,710$17.173.6
14Healthcare Support Occupations1070$41,940$20.162.85
15Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations960$76,400$36.730.8
16Fast Food and Counter Workers850$27,490$13.222.45
17Architecture and Engineering Occupations820$87,800$42.211.7
18Office Clerks, General790$45,130$21.71.9
19Protective Service Occupations790$59,500$28.62.2
20Stockers and Order Fillers790$36,340$17.471.25
21Cashiers740$30,110$14.482.2
22Community and Social Service Occupations710$53,790$25.861.75
23Personal Care and Service Occupations710$34,160$16.424.65
24Registered Nurses700$85,150$40.941.95
25General and Operations Managers670$94,590$45.481.5
26Production Occupations640$56,460$27.145.6
27Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive590$43,390$20.861.4
28Food Preparation Workers580$30,870$14.840.5
29Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers570$60,820$29.241.2
30Construction Laborers510$50,400$24.230.9
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners490$37,880$18.211.5
32Computer and Mathematical Occupations420$83,670$40.233
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers420$62,390$300.95
34Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners410$29,020$13.950.9
35Waiters and Waitresses400$26,840$12.911.65
36Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks390$47,890$23.021.05
37Cooks, Restaurant350$30,140$14.490.9
38Receptionists and Information Clerks350$32,190$15.480.7
39Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other340$76,140$36.610.7
40Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics330$65,030$31.260.5
41Home Health and Personal Care Aides330$34,390$16.540
42Civil Engineers320$92,200$44.330.2
43Maintenance and Repair Workers, General320$54,850$26.370.9
44First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers310$36,700$17.650.6
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers300$47,340$22.760.95
46Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations290$48,590$23.361.8
47Customer Service Representatives290$38,540$18.531.75
48Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators290$70,020$33.660.25
49Bartenders260$28,240$13.580.4
50Medical Assistants230$44,770$21.520.45
51Carpenters210$70,310$33.80.6
52Nursing Assistants210$41,900$20.150.95
53Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters200$85,710$41.210.3
54Construction Managers190$99,870$48.010.3
55Legal Occupations190$95,730$46.020.8
56Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians180$65,910$31.690.1
57Cooks, Fast Food180$24,250$11.660.3
58Electricians180$75,400$36.250.45
59Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants180$43,740$21.030.4
60Accountants and Auditors170$83,820$40.30.9
61Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists170$74,260$35.70
62First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers160$83,540$40.160.4
63Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines160$80,010$38.470.1
64Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers150$28,560$13.730.3
65Dishwashers140$28,250$13.580.3
66Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health140$81,660$39.260.1
67Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products140$55,940$26.890.85
68Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors140$55,760$26.810.2
69Billing and Posting Clerks130$45,410$21.830.3
70Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants130$59,970$28.830.35
71Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other130$51,740$24.870
72Tellers130$33,790$16.250.25
73Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists120$56,360$27.10.2
74Childcare Workers120$34,210$16.450.7
75Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment120$26,820$12.890.3
76Driver/Sales Workers120$29,360$14.120.3
77Financial Managers120$103,060$49.550.4
78Firefighters120$46,790$22.490.2
79First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers120$88,950$42.770.3
80Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel120$58,750$28.240.7
81Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors110$63,490$30.520.2
82First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors110$84,100$40.430.3
83Information and Record Clerks, All Other110$44,310$21.30.1
84Medical and Health Services Managers110$127,390$61.240.3
85Pharmacy Technicians110$43,740$21.030.3
86Security Guards110$41,010$19.720.7
87Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks110$49,840$23.960.4
88Social and Human Service Assistants110$41,280$19.850.3
89Computer Occupations, All Other100$85,490$41.10.3
90Human Resources Specialists100$65,910$31.690.4
91Physical Therapists100$87,050$41.850.2
92Administrative Services and Facilities Managers90$83,560$40.170
93Counter and Rental Clerks90$40,000$19.230.3
94Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations90$31,760$15.270.65
95Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers90$41,490$19.950.75
96Lawyers90$115,890$55.720.5
97Parts Salespersons90$41,560$19.980.2
98Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other90$89,850$43.20.7
99Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers90$84,880$40.810.4
100Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products90$71,720$34.480.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Fairbanks Colleges
Fairbanks colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Fairbanks Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$57,15033,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$45,4204,620
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$29,4703,370
Sales and Related Occupations$36,1103,350
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$50,9002,920
Construction and Extraction Occupations$67,1302,280
Management Occupations$97,1202,030
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$63,2502,000
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$100,0801,970
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$64,0701,890
Retail Salespersons$28,4201,570
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$75,2701,240
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,7101,120
Healthcare Support Occupations$41,9401,070
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$76,400960
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,490850
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$87,800820
Office Clerks, General$45,130790
Protective Service Occupations$59,500790
Stockers and Order Fillers$36,340790
Cashiers$30,110740
Community and Social Service Occupations$53,790710
Personal Care and Service Occupations$34,160710
Registered Nurses$85,150700
General and Operations Managers$94,590670
Production Occupations$56,460640
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,390590
Food Preparation Workers$30,870580
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,820570
Construction Laborers$50,400510
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,880490
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$83,670420
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,390420
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,020410
Waiters and Waitresses$26,840400
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,890390
Cooks, Restaurant$30,140350
Receptionists and Information Clerks$32,190350
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$76,140340
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$65,030330
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,390330
Civil Engineers$92,200320
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$54,850320
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,700310
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,340300
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$48,590290
Customer Service Representatives$38,540290
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$70,020290
Bartenders$28,240260
Medical Assistants$44,770230

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Fairbanks, Alaska Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$57,15033,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$45,4204,620
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$29,4703,370
Sales and Related Occupations$36,1103,350
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$50,9002,920
Construction and Extraction Occupations$67,1302,280
Management Occupations$97,1202,030
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$63,2502,000
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$100,0801,970
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$64,0701,890
Retail Salespersons$28,4201,570
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$75,2701,240
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,7101,120
Healthcare Support Occupations$41,9401,070
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$76,400960
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,490850
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$87,800820
Office Clerks, General$45,130790
Protective Service Occupations$59,500790
Stockers and Order Fillers$36,340790
Cashiers$30,110740
Community and Social Service Occupations$53,790710
Personal Care and Service Occupations$34,160710
Registered Nurses$85,150700
General and Operations Managers$94,590670
Production Occupations$56,460640
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,390590
Food Preparation Workers$30,870580
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,820570
Construction Laborers$50,400510
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,880490
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$83,670420
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,390420
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,020410
Waiters and Waitresses$26,840400
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,890390
Cooks, Restaurant$30,140350
Receptionists and Information Clerks$32,190350
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$76,140340
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$65,030330
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,390330
Civil Engineers$92,200320
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$54,850320
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,700310
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,340300
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$48,590290
Customer Service Representatives$38,540290
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$70,020290
Bartenders$28,240260
Medical Assistants$44,770230

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