The minimum wage in Ketchikan is $11.91/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $22.50/hour and local cost of living.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Calculate annual, monthly, and weekly income at any hourly wage in Ketchikan.
The minimum wage in Ketchikan is the Alaska statewide minimum of $11.91/hour. Ketchikan does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Alaska statewide minimum of $11.91/hour applies; Alaska indexes the rate to inflation each January. The bigger question for most workers is how that compares to what it actually costs to live in Ketchikan. With average 1-bedroom rent near $1,300/month and a cost-of-living index of 138 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Ketchikan, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.91 | $24,773 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $22.50 | $46,800 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $45.00 | $93,600 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $15,600 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Ketchikan.
Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska and a major cruise-ship port, known as the salmon capital of the world, with an economy built on summer tourism, commercial fishing and seafood processing, and its role as a gateway to the Inside Passage.
| Local Metric | Ketchikan (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 13,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Ketchikan Gateway Borough |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 138 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $22.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $45.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.91/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,300/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,650/month |
| Median home price | $400,000 |
| Median household income | $78,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 8% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The minimum wage in Ketchikan is the Alaska statewide minimum of $11.91/hour. Ketchikan does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Alaska statewide minimum of $11.91/hour applies; Alaska indexes the rate to inflation each January. A full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks) earns about $24,773 per year gross before taxes at that rate.
Not for a single adult. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Ketchikan Gateway Borough needs about $22.50/hour (roughly $46,800/year) to cover basic costs. That is $10.59/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $45.00/hour.
At $11.91/hour, full-time work (2,080 hours/year) produces about $24,773 gross. Part-time at 30 hours/week is roughly $18,580/year. Average 1-bedroom rent in Ketchikan is about $1,300/month, or $15,600/year.
Ketchikan does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Alaska statewide minimum of $11.91/hour applies; Alaska indexes the rate to inflation each January.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has not changed since 2009. Alaska has set a state minimum wage of $11.91/hour, indexed to inflation and above the federal floor, and that rate applies in Ketchikan.