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Heavy Equipment Operator pay in New Mexico

Statewide and by city · BLS, May 2025

$52,000statewide median a year
$25.00median an hour
#38of 50 states + DC
5,520heavy equipment operators employed statewide

Statewide pay Government data

Heavy equipment operators in New Mexico earn a statewide median of $52,000 a year, 13% below the typical U.S. metro, ranking #38 of 50 states and DC. About 5,520 people work in the trade statewide.

Statewide pay range

$44,800Entry · 10th$47,47025th$52,000Median$60,09075th$69,690Top · 90th

States ranked near New Mexico

Kentucky$57,780
Virginia$57,160
Maine$56,140
New Mexico$52,000
Tennessee$52,000
Louisiana$51,700
Kansas$51,620

See all states on the heavy equipment operators nationwide.

Pay by city Government data

FarmingtonNEW MEXICO · NM$55,180
Santa FeNEW MEXICO · NM$52,000
AlbuquerqueNEW MEXICO · NM$51,160
Las CrucesNEW MEXICO · NM$48,890
MetroMedian payReal payJobs
FarmingtonNEW MEXICO · NM$55,180$62,914480
Santa FeNEW MEXICO · NM$52,000$52,649140
AlbuquerqueNEW MEXICO · NM$51,160$53,5451,330
Las CrucesNEW MEXICO · NM$48,890$54,195440

Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate

Pay outside the cities Government data

BLS also reports pay for New Mexico's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.

Eastern New Mexico$54,080
Northern New Mexico$50,400

BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.

The job (national)

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 4.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 39,200 openings a year. Typical training: moderate-term on-the-job training.

Nationally, heavy equipment operators have 78 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, about the same as all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.

What the work is like Government data

How often heavy equipment operators deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.

Outdoors, in all kinds of weatherVery often
Indoors with heating and air conditioningRarely
Very hot or cold conditionsOften
Working at heightsOccasionally
Climbing ladders, scaffolds or polesRarely
Cramped spaces and awkward positionsOccasionally
Loud noiseOften
Hazardous conditionsOccasionally
Standing, bending, kneeling and walkingOccasionally
SittingSometimes

Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).

O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.

Licensing in New Mexico Official source

The main state licensing office in New Mexico is the New Mexico Construction Industries Division. It can point you to the right license for heavy equipment operators.

Official New Mexico licensing site ↗

Requirements for heavy equipment operators vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.

Cities in New Mexico

FarmingtonNEW MEXICO · NM-0.9%population since 2020 · 4.5% unemployment
Santa FeNEW MEXICO · NM+1.2%population since 2020 · 3.7% unemployment
AlbuquerqueNEW MEXICO · NM+0.8%population since 2020 · 4.0% unemployment
Las CrucesNEW MEXICO · NM+4.1%population since 2020 · 4.9% unemployment

All trades in New Mexico.

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