Hey guys and gals.

I have always wanted to move up north but have heard so many conflicting things. Maybe you can help clear some of them up.

Job availability: I had the chance in the 70's to go from oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to Prudhoe Bay. I didn't take it because some of the guys said that it costs so much to live up there that I would actually come out better staying in the Gulf. I dont work the oilfield anymore but are there any jobs in the plant mechanics field? ie. machine repair, welding, machinist, pneumatics, hydraulics, die repair, pipe fitting, carpentry, heck, I can do most anything like that.
What is the average pay scale? Is it a true living wage? Can you afford a home, vehicle, boat, atv, kids college etc?

I would not be interested in living in the TRUE boonies, I've cut enough firewood and hauled enough water to know I'm too old for that. Im talking about in the exurbs of someplace like Anchorage, Fairbanks etc.

Any manufacturing much up there?

What does a 2000sq ft home cost on average?

What is your weekly grocery bill for a family of 4?

What is your insurance for home and vehicles?

How is the medical care up there? Close? Quality?

Would it be a good place to retire?

Lots of ?s I know. But thanks for any help

 

There are no manufacturing jobs. The oil production on the Slope has been on a steady decline since the 80's. We're now pumping around 60% less oil than we were in 1980.

If you're a carpenter, you can do well up here. Mostly everything else you listed is either in smaller numbers than in the Lower 48, or they're on the decline.

The power plants up here are all natural gas fueled, and they're very small compared to down in the States.

I've lived here for 6 yrs and I'm a certified pipe welder and it's still rather hard for me to find work when I need it. For me to find work that'll last through the winter is like pulling teeth. I've done a lot of research on the industrial/construction job market throughout the U.S. and I've found that although Alaska is going through a construction boom, it still pales in comparison to all the huge projects in the States. I've looked at www.jobhotsheets.com and I'm in awe at how much skilled trades work there is to be had at a great wage! I've also looked at www.ajb.com and compared how many welding jobs there are in Alaska w/ various other states. Usually I find about 1 page's worth of "welding related" jobs in Alaska. Compare that with Florida's 9 page's worth of "directly related to welding" jobs!

All that said, my wife and I are leaving Alaska for more prosperous ground in Florida in about a month and a half.

If you can find a good job up here I'm glad you found it! But you better hold onto that job w/ your life because there might not be many more like it!

 

Oops, forgot to answer your other questions...

What is the average pay scale? Is it a true living wage? Can you afford a home, vehicle, boat, atv, kids college etc? A welder can make $12-$22/hr depending on what you're doing. Carpenters - $12-$20/hr for an average hired on carpenter.
You need to be making around $30/hr combined income to really live comfortably and buy all the toys you want.

What does a 2000sq ft home cost on average? In Anchorage, $170,000 for a 20 yr old, $240,000 for a brand new one...Wasilla (1 hr north of Anch.), $130,000 brand new.

What is your weekly grocery bill for a family of 4? Me and the wife can throw away $100/wk pretty easily.

What is your insurance for home and vehicles? I'd say average for 1 vehicle, 1 driver $800/6 mo., but that's just a guess...mine is higher

How is the medical care up there? Close? Quality? Anchorage has 2 major hospitals that handle most of the critical care for the whole state. If somebody chops off a leg they get sent to one of Anchorage's hospitals. If somebody needs open heart surgery and they have enough time, they'll put them on a Medevac jet and fly them to Seattle (Alaska is still behind the times when it comes attracting doctors w/ sufficient medical knowledge to handle complicated processes, not to mention getting enough funding for the facilities to handle such tasks).

Would it be a good place to retire? If you love hunting and fishing and snow, sure thing! Summer is pretty nice too. On the longest day the sun rises around 4:30 am and doesn't set till 11:30 pm! Heck, it's the end of July and the sun still doesn't set till 10 pm and it stays light outside till 11:30 pm. Kinda annoying if you like to sleep!

 

If you are a "skilled laborer" yes- it will probably be difficult for you to find work- some skilled TECHNICIANS, however, have it not to bad- I am in the medical field, and it is pretty good for me.

Construction in the summer isn't too bad, but it is not a "living wage" year around. It is very expensive for decent housing up here, and in fact, I make a killing off of my rentals, pretty much the same as I do in my job, but with only about 8 hours a week of work to actually do!

If you don't have a job lined up, making 22 bucks an hour + (more if you are a family) don't bother, you will be very disappointed.

 

Oops...that's www.ajb.org for anybody who tried that link and got a weird site.

 

Thanks guys, that is about what I was told 20 years ago. I guess I will just have to visit. LOL

 

Yup...the 3 biggest industries here are oil, fishing, and tourism...and the medical field is close behind those.

You could always visit for about a month or so during the summer. Plenty to see and do.

 

Tourism is really the best to get into at the local level- my Mom has a B&B and I am building a resort on the Big Su river up by Willow (will be done in about 10 years, just in time to retire LOL) - If you can get a job making a living wage in what we call "the valley"- near palmer and Wassilla, and can get a piece of cheap land near one of the tourist destinations, or on a salmon bearing river, you really have a good shot at a very nice living and life up here.