Crane operator salary in New Mexico
Median $30.00 an hour for 290 crane operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Crane operator pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 34th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.54). 290 crane operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $21.72 – $29.63 | $45,180 – $61,630 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.63 – $32.35 | $61,630 – $67,280 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $32.35 – $39.34 | $67,280 – $81,830 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $21.54 | $39.34 | $47.61 | 50 | 31% above |
Crane operator wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.76 | $28.52 | $15.29 | 40 |
| 2000 | $13.30 | $24.87 | $15.89 | 90 |
| 2001 | $13.52 | $24.58 | $16.64 | 80 |
| 2002 | $16.12 | $28.85 | $17.47 | 150 |
| 2003 | $16.91 | $29.59 | $17.86 | 240 |
| 2004 | $18.71 | $31.89 | $17.99 | 120 |
| 2005 | $21.53 | $35.49 | $18.69 | — |
| 2006 | $23.01 | $36.75 | $18.77 | 110 |
| 2007 | $22.21 | $34.49 | $19.36 | 300 |
| 2008 | $22.96 | $34.33 | $20.13 | 250 |
| 2009 | $23.97 | $35.97 | $21.22 | 210 |
| 2010 | $26.74 | $39.48 | $22.23 | 50 |
| 2011 | $27.58 | $39.47 | $22.34 | 120 |
| 2012 | $27.06 | $37.94 | $22.73 | 130 |
| 2013 | $27.08 | $37.42 | $23.38 | 130 |
| 2014 | $26.79 | $36.43 | $24.39 | 110 |
| 2015 | $27.53 | $37.39 | $24.83 | 100 |
| 2016 | $28.00 | $37.56 | $25.08 | 130 |
| 2017 | $27.61 | $36.26 | $25.10 | 110 |
| 2018 | $28.46 | $36.49 | $26.03 | 150 |
| 2019 | $29.68 | $37.38 | $27.26 | 120 |
| 2020 | $31.04 | $38.61 | $28.71 | 130 |
| 2021 | $32.96 | $39.16 | $29.92 | 180 |
| 2022 | $36.75 | $40.43 | $29.49 | 120 |
| 2023 | $30.73 | $32.47 | $31.10 | 70 |
| 2024 | $29.30 | $30.07 | $31.91 | 110 |
| 2025 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $32.73 | 290 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in New Mexico changed by -19.8% over the last ten years of data and by -19.7% since 2019.
Are there more crane operator jobs in New Mexico?
BLS counted 290 crane operators in New Mexico in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 38%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for crane operators in New Mexico
New Mexico's labor market agency projects the number of crane operators in the state to change by +13.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 110 to 120, with about 10 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 290 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Mexico labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay crane operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 13 of the 25 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $36.08 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.98). 12 of the 25 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Cibola County at $28.98). The market median for the state is $30.00.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catron | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260014 |
| Curry | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260016 |
| De Baca | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260018 |
| Hidalgo | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260032 |
| Lea | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260020 |
| Lincoln | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260021 |
| Luna | Union ENGI0953-011 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260023 |
| Otero | Union ENGI0953-012 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260025 |
| Roosevelt | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260027 |
| Sierra | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Union ENGI0953-007 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260029 |
| Cibola | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260015 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260031 |
| Los Alamos | Survey SUNM2010-010 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260022 |
| McKinley | Survey SUNM2010-012 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260024 |
| Mora | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Survey SUNM2010-014 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260026 |
| San Miguel | Survey SUNM2010-016 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260028 |
| Taos | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Survey SUNM2010-018 2010-11-09 | $24.38 | $4.60 | $28.98 | NM20260030 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Mexico prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Mexico?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just crane operators), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 22 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 22,922 in 2015 to 28,689 in 2025, +25.2%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna County | 22 | 204 | $120,882 | $2,325 |
| Lea County | 109 | 1,200 | $83,228 | $1,601 |
| Eddy County | 102 | 1,438 | $79,136 | $1,522 |
| Valencia County | 126 | 1,263 | $77,466 | $1,490 |
| Sandoval County | 172 | 1,310 | $71,541 | $1,376 |
| Bernalillo County | 1,170 | 14,398 | $68,155 | $1,311 |
| San Juan County | 170 | 1,610 | $63,126 | $1,214 |
| Santa Fe County | 299 | 1,752 | $57,076 | $1,098 |
| Rio Arriba County | 46 | 148 | $55,931 | $1,076 |
| Otero County | 69 | 582 | $55,218 | $1,062 |
| Chaves County | 80 | 458 | $55,133 | $1,060 |
| Grant County | 33 | 264 | $54,842 | $1,055 |
| Doña Ana County | 312 | 2,480 | $53,036 | $1,020 |
| San Miguel County | 31 | 153 | $52,934 | $1,018 |
| Taos County | 64 | 244 | $51,035 | $981 |
| Curry County | 75 | 760 | $50,575 | $973 |
| McKinley County | 44 | 397 | $50,261 | $967 |
| Lincoln County | 49 | 215 | $47,664 | $917 |
| Sierra County | 12 | 51 | $47,201 | $908 |
| Socorro County | 11 | 37 | $46,283 | $890 |
| Colfax County | 20 | 67 | $43,940 | $845 |
| Union County | 8 | 17 | $41,700 | $802 |
| Quay County | 9 | 38 | $36,118 | $695 |
| Catron County | — | — | — | — |
| Cibola County | — | — | — | — |
| De Baca County | — | — | — | — |
| Guadalupe County | — | — | — | — |
| Harding County | — | — | — | — |
| Hidalgo County | — | — | — | — |
| Los Alamos County | — | — | — | — |
| Mora County | — | — | — | — |
| Roosevelt County | — | — | — | — |
| Torrance County | — | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
More on New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in New Mexico?
The median crane operator in New Mexico earned $30.00 an hour ($62,400 a year) in May 2025, 8% below the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $29.63–$32.35; the top 10% earn more than $39.34.
Where does New Mexico rank for crane operator pay?
New Mexico ranks 34th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $30.00 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for crane operators in 13 counties, with a typical package of $36.08 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many crane operators work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 290 crane operators in New Mexico in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.23; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is crane operator work growing in New Mexico?
New Mexico's labor market agency projects +13.8% growth for crane operators between 2024 and 2034, from 110 to 120 jobs.
How many crane operator openings a year are there in New Mexico?
New Mexico projects about 10 openings a year for crane operators over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 3,500 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 53-7021. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: New Mexico labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.