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Wheel Loader Operator Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

... operated in accordance with FMCSA regulation 49 C.F.R. 396.11. * Verify load and load destination and proper load securement. * Couple the tractor and trailer, inspect the fifth wheel plate, release ...

Unloads pallets of product from the delivery vehicle with an electronic pallet jack or 2 wheel hand ... Using equipment to aid in hauling loads (for example, operating pallet jacks, using dock plates, or ...

Unloads pallets of product from the delivery vehicle with an electronic pallet jack or 2 wheel hand ... Using equipment to aid in hauling loads (for example, operating pallet jacks, using dock plates, or ...

Unloads pallets of product from the delivery vehicle with an electronic pallet jack or 2 wheel hand ... Using equipment to aid in hauling loads (for example, operating pallet jacks, using dock plates, or ...

Unloads pallets of product from the delivery vehicle with an electronic pallet jack or 2 wheel hand ... Using equipment to aid in hauling loads (for example, operating pallet jacks, using dock plates, or ...

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Wheel Loader Operator information

See Alaska salary details

$11

$20

$27

How much do wheel loader operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for wheel loader operator in Alaska is $20.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.36 and $23.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is a Wheel Loader Operator?

As a wheel loader operator, you use front-end loaders to transport and haul materials or debris around a construction site. The bucket on the wheel loader is used to load and unload materials like ground fill or debris from demolished structures. Wheel loader operators are skilled at driving and controlling these large machines, coordinating with site management and other drivers to ensure safe operation at all times.

What are wheel loader operators?

Wheel loader operators are skilled professionals who operate heavy machinery known as wheel loaders, which are used to move materials such as soil, gravel, sand, and debris on construction sites, quarries, and other industrial locations. Their responsibilities include loading and unloading materials, transporting them to designated areas, and maintaining the equipment to ensure safe operation. Operators must be attentive to safety protocols and often require specialized training or certification. They play a vital role in keeping construction and material-handling operations efficient and safe.

What are the most common challenges faced by a Wheel Loader Operator on a construction site?

Wheel Loader Operators often encounter challenges such as working in varying weather conditions, navigating around tight spaces or other heavy machinery, and maintaining clear communication with ground crews. Staying alert and adhering to strict safety protocols is crucial to prevent accidents. Additionally, operators are expected to perform routine equipment checks and minor maintenance, ensuring the loader is always in optimal working condition. Adapting to rapidly changing job site priorities and collaborating with other operators and site supervisors are also key aspects of the role.

What is the difference between Wheel Loader Operator vs Excavator Operator?

AspectWheel Loader OperatorExcavator Operator
CredentialsCommercial driver's license (CDL) often preferred, OSHA safety trainingOSHA safety training, sometimes specific excavator certifications
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, mining, material handlingConstruction sites, demolition, trenching
Common UsageLoading/unloading materials, moving bulk materialsDigging, trenching, lifting heavy objects

While both Wheel Loader Operators and Excavator Operators work in construction and mining environments, their roles differ in equipment and tasks. Wheel Loader Operators primarily handle loading and moving bulk materials, whereas Excavator Operators focus on digging and trenching. Certifications and safety training overlap, but their specific equipment skills vary. Understanding these differences helps employers and job seekers find the right fit for their skills and project needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Wheel Loader Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Wheel Loader Operator, you need practical experience with heavy machinery, a high school diploma or equivalent, and often a relevant equipment operator certification or license. Familiarity with hydraulic systems, onboard computers, safety procedures, and routine maintenance tools is crucial. Attention to detail, strong communication, and problem-solving skills help operators work safely and efficiently within team environments. These competencies ensure safe operation, prevent equipment damage, and contribute to productivity on construction or industrial sites.
What are the most commonly searched types of Wheel Loader Operator jobs in Alaska? The most popular types of Wheel Loader Operator jobs in Alaska are:
What are popular job titles related to Wheel Loader Operator jobs in AK? For Wheel Loader Operator jobs in AK, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Wheel Loader Operator job openings in Alaska as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $42,511 per year, or $20.4 per hour.

Journeyman Equipment Operator - AIT

Ahtna Infrastructure Technologies LLC

Anchorage, AK

$35/hr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Summary:

This position will be based out of the Anchorage or Palmer, AK office and will primarily be a ‘Field Assignment Position’ within the state of Alaska and will report to the corresponding Project Manager or designee. Position operates one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, excavators, and front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, and pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. This position requires 75% travel; hours worked while in travel status could be up to 12 hours per day.

The pay rate for this position is $35.00/hour Admin Rate. Please note this is a full-time temporary seasonal position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (including but not limited to)

  • Operate various heavy equipment, including excavators, backhoes, and front-end loaders on environmental and construction job sites.
  • Ability to operate precisely and safely in close proximity to others.
  • Requires the ability to properly wear, use, and maintain personal respirator equipment and other forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) on HAZWOPER sites.
  • Monitor job site for hazards and challenge unauthorized personnel on job site and maintain a safe working environment.
  • Maintain constant awareness of surroundings, including eye contact with ground personnel, and recognize job site-specific hazards.
  • Possess good communication skills as well as take direction from environmental staff in all phases of field operations.
  • Maintain safe excavation areas to include benching, shoring, and barricading as necessary to allow access by site personnel when conditions permit entry.
  • Learn and follow safety regulations.
  • Take actions to avoid potential hazards and obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, and falling objects.
  • Adjust hand wheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades buckets, scrapers, and swing booms.
  • Start engines, move throttles, switches, and levers, and depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, and backhoes.
  • Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
  • Align machines, cutter heads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground, or position equipment following hand signals of other workers.
  • Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, and materials using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, and related equipment.
  • Drive and maneuver equipment with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, and rocks and to distribute and level earth or terrain.
  • Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
  • Operate tractors and bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, and building roadways and parking lots.
  • Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.
  • Perform routine maintenance in the field as needed or directed.
  • Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors.
  • Operate loaders to pull out stumps, rip asphalt or concrete, rough-grade properties, bury refuse, or perform general cleanup.
  • Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors using hitches.
  • Test atmosphere for adequate oxygen and explosive conditions when working in confined spaces.
  • Operate compactors, scrapers, and rollers to level, compact, and cover refuse at disposal grounds.
  • Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, and diagrams in order to establish work requirements.
  • Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
  • Operate road watering, oiling, and rolling equipment, and street sealing equipment, such as chip spreaders.
  • Perform specialized work using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, and concrete pumpers.
  • Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.
  • Drive tractor-trailer trucks to move equipment from site to site.
  • Turn valves to control the air and water output of compressors and pumps.
  • Operate equipment to demolish and remove debris and to remove snow from streets, roads, and parking lots.
  • Operate conveyors to remove grit and debris from digesters.
  • Perform any other duties as assigned by management.

      Minimum Qualifications

      • High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED)
      • Five (5) years of experience as a journeyman-level operator
      • Proficient operating skills – ability to finish road grade with a motor grader, ability to excavate and install mainline utilities (waterline, sewer line, and storm sewer) to specified line and grade, operate an excavator while using a trench box productively, read and interpret grade stakes, install finish grade with a dozer and manage a fill site while operating a dozer
      • Knowledge of construction, machines, and tools, including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance, and the practical application of engineering science/technology
      • Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Goggles, Hardhats, Safety Shoes, etc.)
      • Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and the ability to be insured by company policy

      Preferred Qualifications

      • Operators certificate
      • Knowledge and experience with Alaska Native Cultures
      • Proficient with Topcon / Trimble /Leica surveying equipment

      Shareholder Preference:

      Pursuant to PL 93-638, as amended, preference will be given to qualified Ahtna Native Corporation Shareholders, Descendants, and Spouses in all phases of employment.

      Working Environment:

      • May be indoors or outdoors, subject to confined spaces, changes in temperature, weather conditions, and noise levels.

      Physical Demands (including but not limited to):

      • Frequent lifting, sitting, standing, stooping for prolonged periods of time, using hands/fingers requiring dexterity, should have good hand-eye coordination and motion control in coordination with handling tools, equipment and other related components.
      • Reaching with hands and arms for items above and below sight level, talking, hearing, and seeing (up close, at a distance, along the periphery, with depth, color perception, and the ability to adjust focus); walking from place to place within the project location with occasional use of stairs and no elevator available; bending, pushing, pulling, and standing for up to 12 hours.
      • Communication - Ability to communicate effectively with others using spoken and written word.
      • Frequent lifting of up to 50 pounds, such as small electrical components, equipment, and other materials Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

          Work Schedule: Varies as business/operational needs dictate