What is the minimum wage for Alaska school bus drivers?

Under AS 23.10.065(b), Alaska public school bus drivers must be paid at least two times the state minimum wage. Effective July 1, 2026, the Alaska minimum wage is $14.00/hr, so the required floor is $28.00/hr. This floor moves automatically with the minimum wage on July 1 each year.

Does the 2× rule apply to all bus drivers or only public school bus drivers?

The 2× wage floor applies only to 'public school bus drivers' as defined under AS 23.10.065(b). Private charter bus drivers, transit bus drivers, or other motor coach operators are not covered by this specific provision, though they remain subject to the standard Alaska minimum wage.

Can fringe benefits count toward the 2× wage floor?

No. AS 23.10.065(b) expressly states that 'an employer may not apply fringe benefits as a credit toward payment of the minimum wage established under this subsection.' Fringe benefits such as health insurance or pension contributions cannot offset the 2× wage floor obligation.

Can tip credits offset the Alaska school bus driver wage floor?

No. Alaska prohibits tip credits entirely under AS 23.10.065(a), and the 2× school bus driver floor under (b) separately bars fringe-benefit credits. Neither tips nor fringe benefits may reduce the $28.00/hr floor (at the July 1, 2026 minimum wage of $14.00/hr).

State

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Alaska public school bus drivers must be paid wages of not less than two times the state minimum wage for all hours worked in a pay period — currently$28.00/hr (2 × $14.00/hr effective July 1, 2026) under AS 23.10.065(b). —Alaska Dept. of Labor — Wage & Hour pamphlet (pam100.pdf)

Alaska wage law

Alaska School Bus Driver Wage Calculator

No other wage site publishes this calculator. Estimate the required 2× wage floor for Alaska public school bus drivers, calculate gross pay owed at that floor, and check for any shortfall against an entered actual rate — all derived from the verified registry minimum wage, never from a hardcoded figure.

⚠️ Contract-renewal exemption — AS 23.10.065(c):If your employer holds an existing contract with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), a school district, or a Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA) to provide school bus transportation services, the employer isnot required to adjust driver wages to the 2× floor until that contract is renewed or a new contract is entered. A driver currently working under a pre-renewal contract may not yet be owed the 2× rate under state law. The calculator result surfaces this caveat on every calculation.

Calculate the required 2× floor

What AS 23.10.065(b) requires

Alaska Statute 23.10.065(b) requires that every employer pay each person employed as a public school bus driver wages at a rate of not less than two times the minimum wage established under AS 23.10.065(a), for hours worked in a pay period, whether work is measured by time, commission, or otherwise.

The floor moves automatically with the Alaska minimum wage, which is set by statute and updated each July 1. At the current minimum wage of$14.00/hr (effective July 1, 2026), the required floor is $28.00/hr. When the minimum wage increases to $15.00/hr on July 1, 2027, the floor will be $30.00/hr. This calculator reads the registry value — it never uses a hardcoded figure.

The contract-renewal exemption (AS 23.10.065(c))

Notwithstanding the 2× rule, an employer who contracts with DEED, a school district, or an REAA to provide school bus transportation services is not required to adjust school bus driver wages until entering into or renewing that contract. This means:

A contractor mid-term on an existing contract is not yet obligated to pay the 2× floor — even if the minimum wage has increased since the contract was signed.
The obligation attaches at contract renewal — the contractor must build the 2× floor into any new or renewed bid.
A driver unsure whether their employer's contract has been renewed should contact the Alaska Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.

Fringe benefits and tip credits cannot offset the floor

AS 23.10.065(b) expressly states that an employer may not apply fringe benefits as a credit toward payment of the 2× minimum wage. Health insurance, retirement contributions, or other benefits cannot reduce the cash-wage obligation. Alaska also prohibits tip credits entirely under AS 23.10.065(a).

Worked example

Example: 40 hours at the 2× floor (current rates)

Alaska minimum wage = $14.00/hr (effective July 1, 2026) Statutory multiplier (AS 23.10.065(b)) = ×2Required floor = $28.00/hr Hours worked = 40 Gross pay at 2× floor = 40 × $28.00 = $1120.00

Daily and weekly overtime

The 2× wage floor is a minimum rate — it does not replace Alaska's overtime rules. A public school bus driver who works more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week is entitled to 1.5× their regular rate (which is at least the 2× floor) for overtime hours, per AS 23.10.060(b). Use the Alaska overtime calculator for overtime scenarios.

What this page does not determine

Whether an employer's transportation contract has been renewed (the contract-renewal exemption turns on this fact).
Overtime pay, daily-overtime calculations, or the non-stacking rule — use theAlaska overtime calculator.
Whether federal FLSA minimum wage or overtime standards apply and are more protective.
Whether collective bargaining agreement terms set a higher floor.
Whether the driver qualifies as a "public school bus driver" as a matter of fact (the statute uses this as a term of art).
Final paycheck timing, paid sick leave, or meal/rest break entitlements — see the other Alaska calculators.

Sources and verification

The 2× multiplier (AS 23.10.065(b)) and the contract-renewal exemption (AS 23.10.065(c)) were independently re-verified on 2026-08-17 against the primary statutory source:Alaska Department of Labor — Wage and Hour Act pamphlet (pam100.pdf). The HTML page labor.alaska.gov/lss/whact.htm was confirmed STALE as of 2026-08-17 (still showing the prior $13.00 minimum wage); pam100.pdf governs. The base minimum wage is read from the verified site registry; the floor displayed above is derived at render time and will update automatically when the registry is updated for July 1, 2027.

Cross-links: Alaska Minimum Wage ·Alaska Overtime ·Alaska Final Paycheck

Common questions

Is the 2× floor $28.00/hr right now?

At the current Alaska minimum wage of $14.00/hr (effective July 1, 2026), the AS 23.10.065(b) floor is $28.00/hr. This floor moves with the minimum wage and will increase to $30.00/hr when the minimum wage rises to $15.00/hr on July 1, 2027.

My employer is a transportation company — does the 2× rule apply yet?

Only once your employer's contract with DEED, the school district, or an REAA is renewed or a new contract is entered. If your employer is currently in the middle of an existing contract that was signed before the 2× obligation, the AS 23.10.065(c) exemption may mean the 2× floor does not yet apply. Contact the Alaska Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division for a determination specific to your situation.

Does this calculator apply to private school bus drivers?

The 2× floor under AS 23.10.065(b) applies to "public school bus drivers." Private school bus drivers may or may not fall under this definition depending on the nature of their employer's contracts. All drivers remain subject to at least the standard Alaska minimum wage of $14.00/hr (July 1, 2026).

Can overtime be calculated on top of the 2× floor?

Yes. The 2× floor is the minimum regular rate. Alaska overtime (1.5× after 8h/day or 40h/week) is calculated on the actual regular rate — which is at least the 2× floor. Use the Alaska overtime calculator.