Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Alaska (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Alaska, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Alaska Median
$74,680
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+30% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#7 of 49
140 employed here

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Alaska?

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Alaska take home a median of $74,680 annually — roughly $35.90 an hour — which runs 30% above the national median of $57,430.

Within Alaska, entry-level pay starts around $42,680 while the top 10% make $106,110 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,140 and $93,270 a year.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary range in Alaska

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$42,680$20.52
25th percentile (early career)$62,140$29.88
50th percentile (median)$74,680$35.90
75th percentile (experienced)$93,270$44.84
90th percentile (top earners)$106,110$51.01

How Alaska compares

Alaska ranks 7th out of 49 states and territories for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1North Dakota$90,380
2Illinois$80,600
3New Jersey$80,310
4Wyoming$78,230
5New Mexico$76,350

Working as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Alaska

Nationally, about 34,000 people work as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Alaska pay ($74,680) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Alaska?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Alaska is $74,680 per year, or about $35.90 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,680 at the entry level to $106,110 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Alaska pay compare to the national average?
Alaska pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 30% more than the national median of $57,430. Alaska ranks 7th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Alaska a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Yes on pay — Alaska pays above the national median for this occupation, at $74,680 a year. About 140 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Alaska. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Alaska?
The highest-paying occupations in Alaska include Emergency Medicine Physician ($452,620), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($421,450), General Internal Medicine Physician ($366,080), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.