Payment of Wages: Alaska

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Thomas M. Daniel, Perkins Coie LLP

Summary

• Employers in Alaska may pay employees in cash, or by check or direct deposit if certain conditions are met. See Wage Payment Methods.
• In Alaska, all employees must be paid on a monthly basis, unless a semimonthly basis is agreed to. When employees are hired, they must be notified in writing of their payday, rate of pay and place of payment. Penalties are imposed for violations. See Pay Frequency.
• Alaska law specifies the types of deductions that may and may not be made from employees' pay. Penalties may be imposed for noncompliance. See Permitted and Prohibited Wage Deductions.
• All employees must be provided with an itemized statement of pay deductions for each pay period in which deductions are made. Electronic pay statements are also permitted. Penalties apply for failure to provide pay statements to employees. See Pay Statement Requirements.
• An employer must provide written notice of changes in certain pay related information to employees any time the information changes. See Employee Notification Requirements.
• Terminated employees must be paid within a certain amount of time after the termination date. Employers may face penalties for violating these requirements. See Final Pay.
• Alaska's general estates law may apply to an employer who owes wages or other property to a deceased employee. See Deceased Employee Wages.
• Unclaimed wages are considered abandoned property after one year. Employers must file an annual report of unclaimed wages and provide notification to affected employees that wages will be reported to the state. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Unclaimed Wages.