Alaska Overtime Laws

Alaska state overtime law is governed by the Alaska Wage and Hour Act (“AWHA”). The AWHA provides more overtime protections to employees than under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). For example, the AWHA requires payment of “daily overtime” to workers for hours worked over 8 each workday. Alaska regulations require employers to keep accurate payroll records of employees, including accurate records of the daily and weekly overtime hours worked.

 

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development is the investigative agency provided authority to enforce Alaska state overtime law. The Director of the DWLD’s division of Labor Standards and Safety  has responsibility for enforcement of all state wage and hour laws. The DLSS has the power to investigate any alleged or potential violation of overtime law by Alaska employers.

Minimum Wage Law

In 2024, the state minimum wage was $11.73. The rate is set to increase to $11.91 on January 1, 2025. Alaska has adopted state minimum wage law that requires the minimum wage to be adjusted using the consumer price index for consumers in the Anchorage metropolitan area for preceeeding year.

Daily Overtime

Like California, Alaska requires overtime for hours worked over 8 per day. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the regular rate for any hours worked over 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

Statute of Limitations

Alaska’s state law under the Alaska Wage and Hour Act (AWHA) provides for a 2-year statute of limitations. Alaska Stat. § 23.10.130. There is no providsion for an extended statute of limitations for willful violations unde state law.

FLSA Overtime Exemptions

Alaska has not fully adopted and does not automatically apply FLSA exemptions. Sleeper v. URS Midwest, Inc., 347 F. Supp. 3d 408, 419 (D. Alaska 2018) (employee exempted under Federal Motor Carrier Act non-exempt under state law).