The Alaska workers compensation act — formally the Alaska Alaska Workers’ Compensation Act, found at Alaska Statutes Title 23, Chapter 30 (AS 23.30) — is the statute behind every workers’ comp claim, benefit and employer mandate in the state.
This plain-English guide to the Alaska workers compensation act gives the section numbers next to the rules people actually need: who must be covered, the deadlines, the waiting period, the pay rate, the exclusive-remedy bargain, the ban on retaliation and the penalties. Verified against the official code as of October 2026.
Alaska at a Glance
| Official name | Alaska Workers’ Compensation Act |
| Where it lives | Alaska Statutes Title 23, Chapter 30 (AS 23.30) |
| First enacted | 1915 |
| Reporting deadline | 30 days after the injury, written notice to the employer — AS 23.30.100 |
| Filing deadline | 2 years after the employee knows the nature of the disability and its relation to the job — AS 23.30.105. The bar applies only if the employer objects at the first hearing. Separately, AS 23.30.110(c) generally gives a worker 2 years after a controversion to request a hearing. |
| Exclusive remedy | AS 23.30.055 — the employer’s liability under the Act is exclusive. Main exception: if the employer fails to secure payment of compensation as required, the worker may generally choose either to claim compensation or to sue the employer in court. |
In This Alaska Guide:
What the Alaska Workers Compensation Act Is
An workers’ compensation act is an no-fault deal written into state law: the employer pays for work injuries without the worker proving fault, and the worker gives up most lawsuits against the employer in return. The Alaska workers compensation act dates to 1915. It lives at Alaska Statutes Title 23, Chapter 30 (AS 23.30), and the official text is linked in the sources.
Benefits are based on “spendable weekly wage” (after-tax), not gross wage (AS 23.30.220). Commercial fishermen are excluded from the Act and covered by the separate Fishermen’s Fund. Employers may not use preemployment health questionnaires except for second injury fund documentation under AS 23.30.205(c) or to check job capacity (AS 23.30.247). Appeals go to a dedicated Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission, not straight to court.
Confirm current rules with the Alaska Division of Workers’ Compensation and a licensed attorney.
Who the Alaska Workers Compensation Act Covers
AS 23.30.075 — every employer with one or more employees in Alaska must carry workers’ compensation insurance or be approved to self-insure (no minimum number of employees) AS 23.30.230 — “Persons not covered,” which includes commercial fishermen as defined in AS 16.05.940 (AS 23.30.230(a)(6)). Commercial fishermen may instead qualify for the separate Fishermen’s Fund.
Deadlines in the Alaska Workers Compensation Act
Waiting period: AS 23.30.150 — no compensation for the first 3 days of disability, unless the disability lasts more than 28 days, in which case the first 3 days are paid. Wage-loss rate: AS 23.30.185 — temporary total disability is paid at 80 percent of the spendable weekly wage, which is gross weekly earnings minus payroll taxes (AS 23.30.220).
The maximum and minimum weekly rates change every year: see AS 23.30.175 and the Division’s current-year rate bulletin..
Alaska Workers Compensation Act: Key Sections at a Glance
The sections of the Alaska workers compensation act that decide most cases, each with its citation:
| Coverage mandate | AS 23.30.075 — every employer with one or more employees in Alaska must carry workers’ compensation insurance or be approved to self-insure (no minimum number of employees) |
| Exemptions | AS 23.30.230 — “Persons not covered,” which includes commercial fishermen as defined in AS 16.05.940 (AS 23.30.230(a)(6)). Commercial fishermen may instead qualify for the separate Fishermen’s Fund. |
| Report an injury | 30 days after the injury, written notice to the employer — AS 23.30.100 |
| File a claim | 2 years after the employee knows the nature of the disability and its relation to the job — AS 23.30.105. The bar applies only if the employer objects at the first hearing. Separately, AS 23.30.110(c) generally gives a worker 2 years after a controversion to request a hearing. |
| Waiting period | AS 23.30.150 — no compensation for the first 3 days of disability, unless the disability lasts more than 28 days, in which case the first 3 days are paid |
| Wage-loss rate | AS 23.30.185 — temporary total disability is paid at 80 percent of the spendable weekly wage, which is gross weekly earnings minus payroll taxes (AS 23.30.220). The maximum and minimum weekly rates change every year: see AS 23.30.175 and the Division’s current-year rate bulletin. |
| Exclusive remedy | AS 23.30.055 — the employer’s liability under the Act is exclusive. Main exception: if the employer fails to secure payment of compensation as required, the worker may generally choose either to claim compensation or to sue the employer in court. |
| Retaliation | AS 23.30.247 — an employer may not discriminate in hiring, promotion, or retention against an employee who in good faith filed a claim for or received benefits. Remedy: damages set by a court in a private civil action. |
| Uninsured employer penalty | AS 23.30.080 — the board may assess a civil penalty of up to 1000 per employee per day of uninsured employment (AS 23.30.080(f)). The Division can also issue stop orders. |
| Who hears disputes | AS 23.30.005 and AS 23.30.110 — the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board hears disputed claims. Its decisions are appealed to the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission (AS 23.30.007, AS 23.30.128), then to the Alaska Supreme Court. |
The Exclusive-Remedy Bargain in the Alaska Workers Compensation Act
AS 23.30.055 — the employer’s liability under the Act is exclusive. Main exception: if the employer fails to secure payment of compensation as required, the worker may generally choose either to claim compensation or to sue the employer in court.
Retaliation and Penalties Under the Alaska Workers Compensation Act
AS 23.30.247 — an employer may not discriminate in hiring, promotion, or retention against an employee who in good faith filed a claim for or received benefits. Remedy: damages set by a court in a private civil action. AS 23.30.080 — the board may assess a civil penalty of up to 1000 per employee per day of uninsured employment (AS 23.30.080(f)). The Division can also issue stop orders.
AS 23.30.005 and AS 23.30.110 — the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board hears disputed claims. Its decisions are appealed to the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission (AS 23.30.007, AS 23.30.128), then to the Alaska Supreme Court.
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Recent Amendments to the Alaska Workers Compensation Act
No amendment to the Alaska workers compensation act effective in 2024, 2025 or 2026 was identified in the official code at verification time. Benefit maximums still change every year under the existing sections.
How to Read the Alaska Workers Compensation Act
Statute pages are written for lawyers, so read the Alaska workers compensation act in this order: the definitions section (who is an employee), the coverage section, then the specific section for your question, using the citations above. The official code is the source; the summaries on legal-information sites are not.
If a section of the Alaska workers compensation act seems to conflict with what an insurer told you, the section wins — and the state agency’s information line can confirm it for free.
Applying the act: the Alaska claim guide turns these sections into steps and dates, and the Alaska requirements guide covers the employer side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Alaska workers compensation act in the code?
Alaska Statutes Title 23, Chapter 30 (AS 23.30). The sources below link to the official text.
How long do I have to report a work injury under the Alaska act?
30 days after the injury, written notice to the employer — AS 23.30.100. Report in writing as soon as possible either way.
Can I sue my employer instead of using the Alaska workers compensation act?
Usually not — the exclusive-remedy section bars most lawsuits against a covered employer. Claims against third parties, and against an uninsured employer, are the common exceptions.
Official Alaska Sources & Resources
- Alaska Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board, administered by the Division of Workers’ Compensation, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/
- Alaska Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#23.30
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Alaska workers compensation act guide was last verified against official Alaska sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
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More Alaska Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File an Alaska Workers’ Comp Claim
- Alaska Workers’ Comp Settlements
- Alaska Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.