A Data Analyst's Guide to Juneau, Alaska

The Salary Picture: Where Juneau Stands

If you're a data analyst looking at Juneau, the first question is about compensation. Let’s cut right to the numbers. The median salary for a Data Analyst in Juneau city and is $83,785/year, which breaks down to $40.28/hour. This is slightly above the national average for the role, which sits at $83,360/year. In a small metro area like this, that slight edge matters, especially when you consider the local economy.

The job market isn't massive, but it's stable. There are approximately 63 data-related job openings in the metro area at any given time, according to recent listings and state labor data. More importantly, the 10-year job growth projection for this field in the region is a robust 36%. This isn't a boomtown spike; it’s a reflection of the steady, increasing demand for data skills in public administration, healthcare, and resource management—the pillars of Juneau’s economy.

To give you a clearer picture of what experience does for your paycheck here, I’ve broken down the typical salary progression. These are estimates based on local job postings and the Alaskans for Data Science salary survey (2023).

Experience Level	Estimated Annual Salary	Key Responsibilities
Entry-Level	$60,000 - $70,000	Basic reporting, data cleaning, using Excel/SQL, supporting senior analysts.
Mid-Level	$75,000 - $90,000	Building dashboards (Power BI/Tableau), conducting independent analyses, mentoring juniors.
Senior-Level	$95,000 - $115,000	Leading projects, designing data models, influencing strategy, managing tools.
Expert/Lead	$120,000+	Architecting data systems, setting analytical strategy, cross-departmental leadership.

How does Juneau compare to other AK cities?

• Anchorage: Salaries can run 5-10% higher ($88,000 - $95,000 median) due to a larger corporate presence, but the cost of living is also higher.
• Fairbanks: Salaries are often closer to the national average ($80,000 - $85,000 median). The market is smaller, heavily tied to military and university research.
• Sitka/Ketchikan: Smaller markets with more variability, often in the $70,000 - $90,000 range, but with fewer advancement opportunities.

Juneau hits a sweet spot: competitive pay for the region, without the intense competition and sprawl of Anchorage.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

A $83,785 salary sounds solid, but what does it mean for your monthly budget? Let’s run the numbers for a single person filing as head of household (a common scenario for professionals moving to AK). Alaska has no state income tax, but you’ll still pay federal tax and FICA (7.65%).

• Gross Monthly: $83,785 / 12 = $6,982
• Estimated Federal Tax & FICA: ~ $1,400 (varies by deductions)
• Take-Home Pay: ~ $5,582

Now, factor in rent. The average 1-bedroom apartment in Juneau costs $1,307/month. This leaves you with roughly $4,275 for all other expenses (utilities, groceries, transportation, savings, entertainment).

Can You Afford to Buy a Home?
This is the big question. The median home price in Juneau is currently around $475,000. With a 20% down payment ($95,000), you’d need a mortgage of $380,000. At current interest rates (around 7%), your monthly principal and interest payment would be roughly $2,530. Add property taxes ($500/month) and insurance ($150), and you’re looking at $3,180/month.

With your take-home pay of ~$5,582, a $3,180 mortgage would be 57% of your take-home pay—far above the recommended 28-30%. This makes buying a home on a single Data Analyst salary a significant stretch without a substantial dual income or a very large down payment. Renting is the more feasible and common path for many professionals in Juneau.

Where the Jobs Are: Juneau's Major Employers

The data jobs in Juneau aren't typically at Silicon Valley-style tech firms. They’re embedded in the institutions that keep the city running. Here’s where you’ll find the most opportunities:

1. State of Alaska (Executive Branch Agencies): This is the biggest employer. Departments like the Department of Revenue (Tax Division), Department of Health (Medicaid/Medicare data), and the Department of Natural Resources (resource management data) all have dedicated analytics teams. Hiring is cyclical, tied to the state budget, but positions are stable once secured.

2. Bartlett Regional Hospital: As the major healthcare provider for Southeast Alaska, Bartlett generates massive amounts of patient, operational, and financial data. They need analysts for everything from patient flow optimization to billing analytics. This is a growing area with a focus on HIPAA-compliant data handling.

3. Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA): A unique state-owned corporation that manages a portfolio of assets to support Alaskans with mental health conditions. They have a strong need for analysts to track program outcomes, manage real estate data, and analyze investment portfolios.

4. City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ): The local government employs analysts for urban planning, public works (traffic, utilities), and budget analysis. It’s a smaller team than the state, but the work is highly visible and directly impacts the community.

5. University of Alaska Southeast (UAS): The university needs analysts for institutional research (student outcomes, enrollment trends, accreditation data). It also offers opportunities for consulting on research projects with faculty in environmental science and fisheries.

6. Major Federal Agencies: The U.S. Coast Guard (Sector Juneau) and the U.S. Forest Service (Tongass National Forest) both have data needs related to operations, logistics, and environmental monitoring. These are often contract or grant-funded positions.

Insider Tip: Many of these jobs aren’t posted on national job boards. Check the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development website (alaska.gov/labor) and the individual agency’s “Careers” pages. Also, join the "Juneau Data & Tech" group on LinkedIn; it’s a small but active community.

Getting Licensed in AK

For Data Analysts, there is no state-specific license required to practice in Alaska. The profession is governed by your skills, portfolio, and certifications, not a state board.

However, there are key certifications that carry weight in the Alaskan market, especially with public sector employers:

• Certified Analytics Professional (CAP): A respected, vendor-neutral certification.
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: A great entry-level credential.
• Tool-Specific Certifications: Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate or Tableau Desktop Specialist are highly valued, as these are the dominant tools in state and local government.

Timeline to Get Started:

• 0-3 Months: If you already have 1-2 years of experience and basic SQL/visualizations skills, you can start applying. Tailor your resume to highlight public sector or resource management (e.g., fisheries, forestry) experience if you have it.
• 3-6 Months: For career-changers, use this time to build a portfolio. Complete a project using publicly available Alaska data—think fisheries harvest data from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game or COVID-19 data from the Alaska DHSS. This demonstrates local knowledge.
• Cost: Certification exams range from $200-$400. No state licensing fees apply.

Best Neighborhoods for Data Analysts

Juneau’s geography dictates its neighborhoods. Most data analysts work downtown (state offices) or near hospitals. Commutes are short, but traffic can be snarled by cruise ships in the summer.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Avg. 1BR Rent (Est.)	Why a Data Analyst Might Live Here
Downtown / West End	Urban, walkable, older buildings. 5-10 min walk to most state offices.	$1,400 - $1,600	Ultimate convenience. Skip the car. The downside: noise from bars and summer tourist bustle.
Mendenhall Valley	Suburban, family-friendly. 15-20 min drive to downtown.	$1,200 - $1,400	More space, newer apartments, close to the Mendenhall Glacier and trails. A solid balance for those with a car.
Douglas / North Douglas	Small-town feel, connected by a short bridge. 10-15 min drive to downtown.	$1,100 - $1,300	Quieter, more community-focused. Great for those who want a home office and don't mind a bridge commute.
Auke Bay	Academic/Scientific hub, 15-20 min north of downtown.	$1,250 - $1,450	Ideal if you work for UAS or a federal agency (Coast Guard, NOAA). Beautiful views, but isolated from downtown amenities.

Insider Tip: In Juneau, "affordable" and "available" are often at odds. Start your housing search 2-3 months before your move. The rental market moves fast, and most quality listings are gone within a week.

The Long Game: Career Growth

In Juneau, career growth isn't about jumping to a competitor; it’s about deepening your expertise and moving up within Alaska’s unique economic structure.

• Specialty Premiums: You can command a salary premium by specializing in:

  • Healthcare Analytics: (Bartlett, State Health Dept.) Salaries can reach the $100,000 - $110,000 range for mid-level roles.
  • Public Sector & Grant Analytics: Expertise in tracking state and federal grant outcomes is gold. Senior analysts in this space can hit $115,000+.
  • Environmental & Resource Data: Skills in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) paired with data analysis are incredibly valuable for agencies like the Dept. of Fish and Game.

• Advancement Paths:

  1. Technical Track: Junior Analyst → Mid-Level Analyst → Senior Analyst → Data Scientist/Architect (rare, but growing).
  2. Management Track: Analyst → Senior Analyst → Analytics Manager / Team Lead → Director of Analytics (often requires an MBA or significant policy experience).
  3. Policy/Strategy Track: Analyst → Policy Analyst (using data for decision-making) → Program Manager / Deputy Director. This is a common path in the state government.

• 10-Year Outlook: The 36% job growth projection is real. The aging workforce in state government will create openings. The push for data-driven decision-making in healthcare and resource management is accelerating. However, the market will remain small. Your growth will come from becoming an indispensable expert in a niche (e.g., Medicaid data, fisheries economics) rather than from moving between many companies.

The Verdict: Is Juneau Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Above-national-average pay for a manageable cost of living.	Very small job market. Limited options if you lose your job or want a change.
Unique, mission-driven work (public health, environment, governance).	High housing costs relative to the rest of the country, driven by limited land.
Stunning natural setting with immediate access to hiking, fishing, and glaciers.	Geographic isolation. High cost and difficulty of travel to/from the Lower 48.
Tight-knit professional community. Easily networked and known.	Cruise ship season (May-Sept) brings massive congestion and noise to downtown.
No state income tax.	"Juneau prices"—everything from groceries to electronics costs more.

Final Recommendation:
Juneau is an excellent choice for a data analyst who values purpose over pace. If you are motivated by using data to solve problems in public health, environmental policy, or community planning, and you prefer a tight-knit community over a sprawling metropolis, you will thrive here.

It is not the right fit if you crave the anonymity and rapid job-hopping of a major tech hub. The path here is about depth, not breadth. If you can secure a role with the State or a major hospital and are comfortable with the idea of renting long-term, the quality of life—both professionally and personally—can be outstanding.

FAQs

Q: I'm a remote worker for a Lower 48 company. Should I move to Juneau?
A: It's possible, but be prepared for high-speed internet costs (GCI is the primary provider) and the travel challenges. The real benefit of Juneau is the local job market and community. Remote work isolates you from that advantage.

Q: How do I handle the "Alaska premium" for goods?
A: Budget an extra 20-30% for groceries and household goods. This is why the $83,785 salary is crucial—it's calibrated to the local cost structure. Buying in bulk from Costco (the only one in Alaska, in Anchorage) via a shopping trip or delivery is a common strategy.

Q: What's the biggest mistake new data analysts make in Juneau?
A: Underestimating the importance of local context. A state agency doesn't care about your Silicon Valley project. They care if you can analyze salmon harvest data or Medicaid spending trends. Tailor your portfolio and interview answers to Alaska's industries.

Q: Is it hard to get a job if I'm not already in Alaska?
A: It can be. Many state jobs prefer local candidates for logistical reasons. However, if you have in-demand skills (SQL, Power BI, healthcare or government experience), you can land a role. Be prepared for a longer hiring process. Use the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development website as your primary source for official job postings.

Q: What about the "Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend" (PFD)?
A: The annual PFD is a bonus, not a salary component. It can be a few hundred to a few thousand dollars (historically, up to $2,000), but it's unpredictable. Never base your monthly budget on receiving a PFD. Consider it a savings or travel fund.

Sources: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, City and Borough of Juneau, Bartlett Regional Hospital, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, rental data from Zillow and local property management firms (June 2024).