The state of Alaska spent more than $26 million paying executive-level officials in 2024, an increase of more than 10% from the previous year, according to a recent report.
Last year’s compensation rate is the highest recorded for executive-level positions, according to annual reports prepared by the state. The change was driven in part by the 2023 adoption of a pay increase for department commissioners, which raised their compensation from $125,000 annually to $168,000.
A three-member compensation commission recently recommended that commissioner salaries, along with those of the governor and lawmakers, be updated automatically every other year depending on inflation. The recommendations will go into effect automatically unless the Legislature blocks the change. Under current law, commissioners can receive a raise only through a recommendation from the State Officers Compensation Commission.
The recent increase in compensation for executives far outpaced pay increases for other state employees, according to data compiled by the state. Average base monthly salaries for the state’s roughly 14,500 employees went up 3.6% between 2023 and 2024.
Alaska’s highest-paid executive was again Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. Richards earned more than $488,000 in 2024. He had topped the executive earners’ chart in 2023 with just under $480,000 in compensation.
Next was University of Alaska President Pat Pitney, who was paid more than $411,000 in 2024. Third was Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. Executive Director Deven Mitchell, with a salary of just under $398,000.
Average state salaries were around $82,000 in 2024.
The report also includes details on state executives’ travel expenses. Gov. Mike Dunleavy was near the top of the list with just under $70,000 in travel-related expenses for the year, a 50% increase from his 2023 travel expenses.
Dunleavy’s travel schedule included official trips to the Canadian territory of Yukon and provinces of Alberta and Ontario, a technology conference in California and an energy conference in Arizona. He also reported official travel to North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Colorado.
At least three state officials reported expenses associated with the Republican National Convention in July in Milwaukee. Dunleavy attended the convention, though he did not list it on his report.
Dunleavy’s chief of staff, Tyson Gallagher, reported $5,760 in state costs to accompany Dunleavy at the convention. Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum also traveled to Milwaukee during the dates of the convention, describing the purpose of the trip as “executive branch/department related travel.” He reported $3,637 in expenses for the trip, which also took him to Texas and Colorado. Deputy Revenue Commission Fadil Limani traveled with Crum on the trip to Wisconsin and Texas, reporting $1,400 in related travel expenses.
Meanwhile, lawmakers’ salaries went up to $80,641 in 2024, an increase of more than $30,000 per legislator from 2023. All but three lawmakers who reside in Juneau also collected around $37,000 in per diem payments. Additionally, most lawmakers spent much of their allotted office expense budget, which stands at $12,000 per House member and $20,000 per senator.
Lawmakers collectively spent $286,000 on travel in 2024, far below their total of $360,000 in 2023. Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman topped the travel chart for the second year in a row, with nearly $47,000 in travel expenses. A dozen lawmakers reported no travel expenses.
Separately, lawmakers reported nearly $380,000 on relocation expenses in 2024 associated with moving from their home districts to Juneau, a 6% increase from the previous year.