Alaska Employment Law — full calculator

Preguntas frecuentes

• Does Alaska have daily overtime rules?

  Yes. Alaska requires overtime pay at 1.5× the regular rate for any hours worked over 8 in a single day, in addition to the standard weekly threshold of 40 hours. This is stricter than the federal FLSA, which only requires weekly overtime. Note: employers with 3 or fewer employees are exempt from Alaska overtime requirements (AS 23.10.060, as of 2026).

• How does Alaska weekly overtime interact with daily overtime?

  Daily overtime hours (hours over 8 in a day) are excluded from the weekly overtime calculation. You first count daily OT, then sum only the regular (non-daily-OT) hours across the week. If those regular hours exceed 40, the excess is also paid at 1.5×. You are never double-counted for the same hours.

• When must an Alaska employer issue a final paycheck after termination?

  If the employer terminates the employee (fired or laid off), the final paycheck is due within 3 working days of the termination date. Weekends and Alaska state/bank holidays do not count. If the employee resigns voluntarily, payment is due by the next regular payday but no later than 3 working days after the final workday (AS 23.05.140, as of 2026).

• What penalty applies if an Alaska employer pays a final paycheck late?

  The employer owes a penalty equal to the employee's regular daily wage for each overdue working day, starting from the date the employee demands payment. The penalty is capped at 90 working days. For example, an employee earning $20/hr working 8-hour days accumulates $160 in penalty per overdue day, up to $14,400 maximum (AS 23.05.140, as of 2026).

• Is sick leave required in Alaska?

  Yes, since July 1, 2025. Alaska Ballot Measure 1 (codified at AS 23.10.066–069) requires employers to provide paid sick leave accruing at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. The annual accrual cap is 40 hours for employers with fewer than 15 FTEs and 56 hours for employers with 15 or more FTEs. Unused leave carries over to the following year with no balance cap.

• What can Alaska sick leave be used for?

  Employees may use accrued sick leave for their own illness or injury, to care for a family member, or when they need to receive care or legal assistance related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employers may require documentation only after three consecutive days of absence.

• What is Alaska's minimum wage in 2026?

  $13.00 per hour from January 1 through June 30, 2026, rising to $14.00 per hour from July 1 through December 31, 2026. Both rates are well above the federal floor of $7.25/hr. The increases were mandated by Ballot Measure 1, approved by voters in November 2024 (AS 23.10.065, as of 2026).

• Does Alaska allow a tip credit toward minimum wage?

  No. Alaska explicitly prohibits tip credits. Employers cannot count tips or gratuities toward the payment of minimum wage. Tipped employees — including servers, bartenders, and delivery workers — must receive the full state minimum wage ($13.00 or $14.00/hr in 2026) in addition to any tips they earn.

• Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Alaska?

  Alaska does not have a statute banning or limiting non-compete agreements. Courts apply the common-law reasonableness standard, evaluating whether the restriction is reasonable in scope, duration, and geographic area and whether it protects a legitimate business interest. There is no state salary threshold analogous to California or Washington requirements.

• Are employers required to provide meal and rest breaks in Alaska?

  Alaska has no mandatory meal or rest break requirement for adult workers. The state follows the federal FLSA's silence on this topic for adults. However, minor employees (ages 14–17) working 5 or more consecutive hours must receive at least a 30-minute break. Breaks shorter than 20 minutes must be paid regardless of worker age.