Why do Fairbanks teachers make more than Anchorage (school district, salary)

[froggin4colorado]

I was looking at the two school district salary schedules and Fairbanks pays their teacher more and includes $5000 for moving costs. Why? Lower Socio-eco? Better planning in Fairbanks?
Like many of you have read in my previous posts, I am sped teacher with two masters degrees, so I would be a Masters+ 36. So I am trying to determine why one would work in Anchorage for 48K verses 55K+5K moving expenses. What's the scoop?

[warptman]

It's colder in Fairbanks?

[NCN]

I think Anchorage probably has a better supply of food. Money does not count for much is there is nothing to spend it on. So the answer is probably "Quality of Life."

[Chilkoot]

The cost of living is higher in Fairbanks.

[BudinAk]

Originally Posted by Chilkoot

The cost of living is higher in Fairbanks.

I think Chilkoot has nailed it: there's a cost of living difference. Anchorage is a port city where they can just barge stuff in, unload it, and it's put into the local stores a few days later. On the other hand, Fairbanks is in the middle of the state, and everything has to be either trucked in or loaded onto freight trains to be shipped in that way. The higher wages there compensate somewhat for the COA differential.

Bud

[froggin4colorado]

Like always, thanks AKers.

[starlite9]

Nope, Cost of living is so close to the same it isn't much of a differance for food and stuff, pennies more if at all in Fairbanks.

Gas costs about ten cents more a gallon though in Fairbanks. The weather is colder, but summers are warmer.

Realestate is cheaper in Fairbanks as is rent, so no clue to why they pay more other than Fairbanks is a better area....

[puff5655]

I'm wondering that too, especially since they have so many people that want to teach there- it's very competitive. A friend of mine went there for a job fair, but found out he wouldn't know whether he had the position until, like, a week before school started. He decided to look elsewhere for work.

So it can't be supply and demand.

[Chilkoot]

Groceries are actually cheaper in Fairbanks than in Anchorage but overall prices are generally higher on most things. There is quite a bit out there on cost of living comparisons but you need to consider the source. Some of it comes from communities that are trying to market the local area. Some of it attempts to be unbiased like what is distributed by the Alaska Dept of Labor.
http://www.labor.state.ak.us/trends/jul08.pdf

Over the past 15 years prices in communities on the road system are coming more in line with each other rather than huge differences.

Anchorage and Fairbanks are fairly close and I think now it comes down to quality of life. I'd rather live in Anchorage where it's 10 degrees in January rather than 30 below.

[froggin4colorado]

Good input, thanks!