Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary
In Alaska, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings earn $74,680 at the median, or about $35.9 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $71,594 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 31.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alaska. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $75K get you in Alaska?
About excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $57K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 32.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,561/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $75K here vs. $57K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings?
Alaska pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings make in Alaska?
The median is $74,680 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,680, and experienced excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings can clear $106,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,077/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 32.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary is worth about $71,594 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.