Heavy equipment operator salary in Alaska
Median $37.41 an hour for 3,050 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
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 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $30.00 – $32.13 | $62,390 – $66,830 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $32.13 – $48.03 | $66,830 – $99,890 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $48.03 – $49.95 | $99,890 – $103,900 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Alaska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $31.35 | $39.61 | $38.38 | $48.60 | 430 | 6% above |
| Anchorage | $28.77 | $36.79 | $34.91 | $51.49 | 980 | 2% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
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 and by -9.8% since 2019.
Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Alaska?
Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Alaska has changed by +30.9%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +1.7%.
Table
| Year | Alaska jobs | Alaska index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,330 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 2,810 | 121 | 103 |
| 2001 | 2,780 | 119 | 109 |
| 2002 | 2,960 | 127 | 106 |
| 2003 | 2,450 | 105 | 106 |
| 2004 | 2,660 | 114 | 110 |
| 2005 | 2,670 | 115 | 117 |
| 2006 | 2,700 | 116 | 121 |
| 2007 | 3,040 | 130 | 124 |
| 2008 | 2,980 | 128 | 123 |
| 2009 | 2,770 | 119 | 114 |
| 2010 | 2,280 | 98 | 103 |
| 2011 | 2,680 | 115 | 103 |
| 2012 | 2,970 | 128 | 103 |
| 2013 | 3,450 | 148 | 105 |
| 2014 | 3,750 | 161 | 106 |
| 2015 | 3,690 | 158 | 110 |
| 2016 | 3,550 | 152 | 110 |
| 2017 | 3,220 | 138 | 113 |
| 2018 | 2,870 | 123 | 118 |
| 2019 | 3,000 | 129 | 125 |
| 2020 | 2,680 | 115 | 124 |
| 2021 | 2,520 | 108 | 125 |
| 2022 | 2,350 | 101 | 130 |
| 2023 | 2,930 | 126 | 139 |
| 2024 | 3,170 | 136 | 145 |
| 2025 | 3,050 | 131 | 147 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for heavy equipment operators in Alaska
Alaska's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by -1.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,320 to 3,270, with about 260 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,050 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Alaska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
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 $88.55 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 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Aleutians West | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Anchorage | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Bethel | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Bristol Bay | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Chugach | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Copper River | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Denali | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Dillingham | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Fairbanks North Star | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Haines | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Hoonah-Angoon | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Juneau | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Kenai Peninsula | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Ketchikan Gateway | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Kodiak Island | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Kusilvak | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Lake and Peninsula | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Matanuska-Susitna | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Nome | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| North Slope | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Northwest Arctic | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Petersburg | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Sitka | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Skagway | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Southeast Fairbanks | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Wrangell | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Yakutat | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk | Union ENGI0302-002 2026-01-25 | $57.95 | $30.60 | $88.55 | AK20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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. Across the 10 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 7,994 in 2015 to 7,572 in 2025, -5.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 5 | 42 | $166,780 | $3,207 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 181 | 1,139 | $97,632 | $1,878 |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 8 | 38 | $94,491 | $1,817 |
| Anchorage Municipality | 536 | 3,714 | $93,075 | $1,790 |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 19 | 68 | $79,339 | $1,526 |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 24 | 103 | $79,182 | $1,523 |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 343 | 1,621 | $78,163 | $1,503 |
| Juneau City and Borough | 64 | 268 | $75,895 | $1,460 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 172 | 583 | $70,416 | $1,354 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 12 | 22 | $66,671 | $1,282 |
| Wrangell City and Borough | 5 | 17 | $47,986 | $923 |
| Haines Borough | 7 | 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
More on 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 $88.55 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Alaska?
BLS counted 3,050 heavy equipment operators in Alaska in May 2025, 9.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 3.05; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Alaska?
The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Alaska went from 3,690 in 2015 to 3,050 in 2025, -17.3%, and +1.7% since 2019. Alaska's labor market agency projects -1.6% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 3,320 to 3,270 jobs.
How many heavy equipment operator openings a year are there in Alaska?
Alaska projects about 260 openings a year for heavy equipment operators over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 39,200 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alaska and metro areas, SOC 47-2073. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Alaska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.