Heavy equipment operator salary in New Mexico
Median $25.00 an hour for 5,520 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Heavy equipment operator pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 38th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.11). 5,520 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $21.54 – $22.82 | $44,800 – $47,470 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.82 – $28.89 | $47,470 – $60,090 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.89 – $33.51 | $60,090 – $69,690 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | $22.13 | $26.53 | $30.25 | $39.40 | 480 | 6% above |
| Santa Fe | $22.18 | $25.00 | $25.30 | $34.16 | 140 | about the same as |
| Albuquerque | $19.52 | $24.59 | $25.75 | $32.47 | 1,330 | 2% below |
| Las Cruces | $18.45 | $23.51 | $26.06 | $29.20 | 440 | 6% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Heavy equipment operator wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.55 | $24.25 | $15.31 | 2,770 |
| 2000 | $14.01 | $26.19 | $15.99 | 3,970 |
| 2001 | $14.32 | $26.03 | $16.42 | 3,780 |
| 2002 | $14.69 | $26.29 | $16.94 | 3,240 |
| 2003 | $14.68 | $25.69 | $16.84 | 3,370 |
| 2004 | $15.47 | $26.37 | $17.00 | 3,290 |
| 2005 | $15.44 | $25.45 | $17.23 | 2,960 |
| 2006 | $15.54 | $24.82 | $17.74 | 3,190 |
| 2007 | $16.24 | $25.22 | $18.33 | 3,600 |
| 2008 | $16.74 | $25.03 | $18.88 | 4,150 |
| 2009 | $17.27 | $25.92 | $19.12 | 4,050 |
| 2010 | $17.27 | $25.50 | $19.42 | 3,900 |
| 2011 | $17.35 | $24.83 | $19.96 | 4,100 |
| 2012 | $17.61 | $24.69 | $20.13 | 4,470 |
| 2013 | $17.99 | $24.86 | $20.45 | 4,890 |
| 2014 | $19.34 | $26.30 | $20.92 | 5,240 |
| 2015 | $19.17 | $26.04 | $21.44 | 4,960 |
| 2016 | $18.92 | $25.38 | $22.06 | 4,300 |
| 2017 | $19.21 | $25.23 | $22.61 | 4,410 |
| 2018 | $19.88 | $25.49 | $22.98 | 4,210 |
| 2019 | $20.82 | $26.22 | $23.55 | 4,230 |
| 2020 | $22.83 | $28.40 | $23.93 | 4,480 |
| 2021 | $22.80 | $27.09 | $23.25 | 4,440 |
| 2022 | $22.94 | $25.24 | $24.73 | 4,660 |
| 2023 | $22.80 | $24.09 | $27.00 | 4,900 |
| 2024 | $23.62 | $24.24 | $28.23 | 5,000 |
| 2025 | $25.00 | $25.00 | $28.78 | 5,520 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in New Mexico changed by -4.0% over the last ten years of data and by -4.6% since 2019.
Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in New Mexico?
Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in New Mexico has changed by +99.3%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +30.5%.
Table
| Year | New Mexico jobs | New Mexico index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,770 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 3,970 | 143 | 103 |
| 2001 | 3,780 | 136 | 109 |
| 2002 | 3,240 | 117 | 106 |
| 2003 | 3,370 | 122 | 106 |
| 2004 | 3,290 | 119 | 110 |
| 2005 | 2,960 | 107 | 117 |
| 2006 | 3,190 | 115 | 121 |
| 2007 | 3,600 | 130 | 124 |
| 2008 | 4,150 | 150 | 123 |
| 2009 | 4,050 | 146 | 114 |
| 2010 | 3,900 | 141 | 103 |
| 2011 | 4,100 | 148 | 103 |
| 2012 | 4,470 | 161 | 103 |
| 2013 | 4,890 | 176 | 105 |
| 2014 | 5,240 | 189 | 106 |
| 2015 | 4,960 | 179 | 110 |
| 2016 | 4,300 | 155 | 110 |
| 2017 | 4,410 | 159 | 113 |
| 2018 | 4,210 | 152 | 118 |
| 2019 | 4,230 | 153 | 125 |
| 2020 | 4,480 | 162 | 124 |
| 2021 | 4,440 | 160 | 125 |
| 2022 | 4,660 | 168 | 130 |
| 2023 | 4,900 | 177 | 139 |
| 2024 | 5,000 | 180 | 145 |
| 2025 | 5,520 | 199 | 147 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for heavy equipment operators in New Mexico
New Mexico's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +8.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,180 to 5,600, with about 480 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 5,520 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 heavy equipment operators in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 1 of the 33 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 $26.43). 25 of the 33 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Catron County at $26.43). The market median for the state is $25.00.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant | Union ENGI0953-006 2024-01-01 | $31.43 | $4.65 | $36.08 | NM20260019 |
| Sandoval | Survey SUNM2016-004 2018-09-26 | $27.97 | $5.16 | $33.13 | NM20260047 |
| Torrance | Survey SUNM2016-006 2018-09-26 | $27.97 | $5.16 | $33.13 | NM20260049 |
| Valencia | Survey SUNM2016-006 2018-09-26 | $27.97 | $5.16 | $33.13 | NM20260049 |
| Bernalillo | Survey SUNM2016-001 2018-09-26 | $25.97 | $5.15 | $31.12 | NM20260044 |
| Doña Ana | Survey SUNM2016-002 2018-09-26 | $25.73 | $4.51 | $30.24 | NM20260045 |
| San Juan | Survey SUNM2016-003 2018-09-26 | $25.73 | $4.51 | $30.24 | NM20260046 |
| Santa Fe | Survey SUNM2016-005 2018-09-26 | $25.73 | $4.51 | $30.24 | NM20260048 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUNM2010-009 2010-11-09 | $23.89 | $2.61 | $26.50 | NM20260021 |
| Catron | Survey SUNM2010-001 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Survey SUNM2010-002 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260014 |
| Curry | Survey SUNM2010-004 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260016 |
| De Baca | Survey SUNM2010-005 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Survey SUNM2010-006 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260018 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260032 |
| Lea | Survey SUNM2010-008 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260020 |
| Luna | Survey SUNM2010-011 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260023 |
| Roosevelt | Survey SUNM2010-015 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260027 |
| Sierra | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Survey SUNM2010-017 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.30 | $26.43 | NM20260029 |
| Otero | Survey SUNM2010-013 2010-11-09 | $20.95 | $4.73 | $25.68 | NM20260025 |
| Cibola | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260015 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260031 |
| Los Alamos | Survey SUNM2010-010 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260022 |
| Mora | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Survey SUNM2010-014 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260026 |
| San Miguel | Survey SUNM2010-016 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260028 |
| Taos | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Survey SUNM2010-018 2010-11-09 | $18.79 | $3.47 | $22.26 | NM20260030 |
| McKinley | Survey SUNM2010-012 2010-11-09 | $13.77 | $0.26 | $14.03 | NM20260024 |
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 heavy equipment 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
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
More on New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in New Mexico?
The median heavy equipment operator in New Mexico earned $25.00 an hour ($52,000 a year) in May 2025, 13% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $22.82–$28.89; the top 10% earn more than $33.51.
Where does New Mexico rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
New Mexico ranks 38th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $25.00 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 1 counties, with a typical package of $36.08 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many heavy equipment operators work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 5,520 heavy equipment operators in New Mexico in May 2025, 6.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.06; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is heavy equipment operator work growing in New Mexico?
The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in New Mexico went from 4,960 in 2015 to 5,520 in 2025, +11.3%, and +30.5% since 2019. New Mexico's labor market agency projects +8.2% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 5,180 to 5,600 jobs.
How many heavy equipment operator openings a year are there in New Mexico?
New Mexico projects about 480 openings a year for heavy equipment operators over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 39,200 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 47-2073. 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.