In a globalized marketplace, Alaska’s NGOs and public sector organizations continue to offer high-paying positions to international relations professionals, while those involved in international business continue to enjoy some of the highest salaries available in the private sector. According to the US Department of Commerce, 90,572 jobs in Alaska were supported by international trade, which accounts for more than one in five jobs in the state. Among these are high-paying jobs for import/export compliance officers, supply chain managers, customs managers and international business consultants among many others.
In Alaska, governmental bodies like the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s Office of International Trade alongside non-profit organizations such as the Alaska World Trade Center stand at the forefront of international business efforts across the state.
Through networking services and cultural education events, these trade agencies use international relations specialists to establish the kind of strong relationships that allow Alaska-based companies to more seamlessly engage in international business transactions.
For instance, in 2013, the Business Roundtable reported that Alaska successfully exported approximately $4.6 billion in goods and $1.6 billion in services, with the top export markets being Korea, Japan, and China.
International Business Salaries in Alaska
International business often involves collaborative efforts between professionals from a wide-range of education and career backgrounds. As such, international business salaries in Alaska are equally diverse. In 2014, the United States Department of Labor released the following median salary figures for several occupations that often deal in international business transactions:
- Business operations specialists: $74,400/yr. or $35.78/hr.
- Purchasing managers: $109,400/yr. or $52.59/hr.
- Compliance officers: $70,500/yr. or $33.90/hr.
- Wholesale buyers: $48,200/yr. or $23.19/hr.
- Management analysts: $80,500/yr. or $38.69/hr.
A more detailed salary analysis for additional international business professionals employed in several geographic locations throughout Alaska was provided by the United States Department of Labor in 2014:
International Relations Salaries in Alaska
The dedicated professionals that pursue careers related to international relations in Alaska are often responsible for strengthening public policy, diplomatic relations, and foreign communication. This kind of international outreach often helps to facilitate lucrative business deals.
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor published median salary statistics for several occupations that often participate in international relation efforts in Alaska:
- Interpreters and translators: $47,100/yr. or $22.66/hr.
- Market research analysts: $62,300/yr. or $29.93/hr.
- Fundraisers: $50,300/yr. or $24.19/hr.
- Labor relations specialists: $89,200/yr. or $42.90/hr.
- Economists: $75,800/yr. or $36.46/hr
The United States Department of Labor also provided the following data to show a more extensive salary analysis for jobs that served international relations objectives across Alaska in 2014: