Heavy equipment operator salary in Alaska
Median $37.41 an hour for 3,050 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Heavy equipment operator pay in Alaska: the full range
Alaska ranks 10th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 10th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.53). 3,050 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $30.00 – $32.13 | $62,390 – $66,830 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $32.13 – $48.03 | $66,830 – $99,890 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $48.03 – $49.95 | $99,890 – $103,900 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Alaska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $31.35 | $39.61 | $48.60 | 430 | 6% above |
| Anchorage | $28.77 | $36.79 | $51.49 | 980 | 2% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Alaska over time
Table
| Year | Alaska $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $26.63 | $51.46 | $15.31 | 2,330 |
| 2000 | $23.90 | $44.68 | $15.99 | 2,810 |
| 2001 | $24.85 | $45.17 | $16.42 | 2,780 |
| 2002 | $25.75 | $46.08 | $16.94 | 2,960 |
| 2003 | $25.95 | $45.40 | $16.84 | 2,450 |
| 2004 | $25.42 | $43.32 | $17.00 | 2,660 |
| 2005 | $25.85 | $42.61 | $17.23 | 2,670 |
| 2006 | $27.83 | $44.44 | $17.74 | 2,700 |
| 2007 | $28.27 | $43.90 | $18.33 | 3,040 |
| 2008 | $29.40 | $43.96 | $18.88 | 2,980 |
| 2009 | $29.08 | $43.64 | $19.12 | 2,770 |
| 2010 | $30.17 | $44.54 | $19.42 | 2,280 |
| 2011 | $29.60 | $42.36 | $19.96 | 2,680 |
| 2012 | $29.48 | $41.34 | $20.13 | 2,970 |
| 2013 | $30.00 | $41.46 | $20.45 | 3,450 |
| 2014 | $30.19 | $41.06 | $20.92 | 3,750 |
| 2015 | $31.48 | $42.76 | $21.44 | 3,690 |
| 2016 | $33.03 | $44.31 | $22.06 | 3,550 |
| 2017 | $33.72 | $44.29 | $22.61 | 3,220 |
| 2018 | $33.76 | $43.28 | $22.98 | 2,870 |
| 2019 | $32.93 | $41.47 | $23.55 | 3,000 |
| 2020 | $31.54 | $39.23 | $23.93 | 2,680 |
| 2021 | $29.65 | $35.23 | $23.25 | 2,520 |
| 2022 | $31.71 | $34.88 | $24.73 | 2,350 |
| 2023 | $34.80 | $36.77 | $27.00 | 2,930 |
| 2024 | $36.06 | $37.01 | $28.23 | 3,170 |
| 2025 | $37.41 | $37.41 | $28.78 | 3,050 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Alaska changed by -12.5% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Alaska
On federally funded construction in Alaska, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 30 of the 30 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $84.83 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $37.41.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleutians East | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Aleutians West | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Anchorage | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Bethel | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Bristol Bay | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Chugach | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Copper River | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Denali | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Dillingham | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Fairbanks North Star | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Haines | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Hoonah-Angoon | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Juneau | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Kenai Peninsula | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Ketchikan Gateway | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Kodiak Island | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Kusilvak | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Lake and Peninsula | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Matanuska-Susitna | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Nome | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| North Slope | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Northwest Arctic | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Petersburg | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Sitka | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Skagway | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Southeast Fairbanks | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Wrangell | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Yakutat | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk | Union ENGI0302-002 2025-01-01 | $55.33 | $29.50 | $84.83 | AK20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alaska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Alaska?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just heavy equipment operators), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 42 | $166,780 | $3,207 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 1,139 | $97,632 | $1,878 |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 38 | $94,491 | $1,817 |
| Anchorage Municipality | 3,714 | $93,075 | $1,790 |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 68 | $79,339 | $1,526 |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 103 | $79,182 | $1,523 |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 1,621 | $78,163 | $1,503 |
| Juneau City and Borough | 268 | $75,895 | $1,460 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 583 | $70,416 | $1,354 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 22 | $66,671 | $1,282 |
| Wrangell City and Borough | 17 | $47,986 | $923 |
| Haines Borough | 12 | $44,723 | $860 |
| Aleutians East Borough | — | — | — |
| Aleutians West Census Area | — | — | — |
| Bristol Bay Borough | — | — | — |
| Chugach Census Area | — | — | — |
| Copper River Census Area | — | — | — |
| Denali Borough | — | — | — |
| Dillingham Census Area | — | — | — |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | — | — | — |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | — | — | — |
| Nome Census Area | — | — | — |
| North Slope Borough | — | — | — |
| Petersburg Borough | — | — | — |
| Sitka City and Borough | — | — | — |
| Yakutat City and Borough | — | — | — |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Alaska
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Alaska?
The median heavy equipment operator in Alaska earned $37.41 an hour ($77,810 a year) in May 2025, 30% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $32.13–$48.03; the top 10% earn more than $49.95.
Where does Alaska rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Alaska ranks 10th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $37.41 an hour, and 10th after adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.4, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Alaska?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 30 counties, with a typical package of $84.83 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Alaska?
BLS counted 3,050 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Alaska in May 2025, 9.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 3.05; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alaska and metro areas, SOC 47-2073.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.