SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Anchorage
Anchorage, AK · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Anchorage, AK is $76,520 per year, well above the national median of $59,850.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Anchorage, AK is $76,520 per year, well above the national median of $59,850. The gap of 27.9% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $59,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $107,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $66,670 to $96,810.
Employment stands at 980, or 5.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Fairbanks leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $82,390. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 188th of 425 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,840 | −0.0% |
| 25th | $66,670 | +11.4% |
| Median (50th) | $76,520 | +27.9% |
| 75th | $96,810 | +61.8% |
| 90th | $107,110 | +79.0% |
| Mean | $80,570 | +34.6% |
Other metro areas in Alaska
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks | $82,390 | 430 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Anchorage run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $76,520 buys what $74,727 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 24.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$76,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$74,727US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,520 a year, 27.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,840 to $107,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 980 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fairbanks, at $82,390.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Anchorage, AK?
The median annual wage is $76,520, or $36.79 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,850, so pay in Anchorage, AK is 27.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Anchorage, AK earns more than $107,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,840 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fairbanks, at $82,390 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 980 jobs in this occupation in Anchorage, AK. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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