Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Las Cruces, NM

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Las Cruces, NM

Median annual salary $46,420 -20.9% vs national
Median hourly $22.32
10th percentile $37,400
90th percentile $58,090
Employed locally 280
National median $58,710

Compare Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary & buying power

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Las Cruces, NM
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,400
    25th
    $40,000
    50th (median)
    $46,420
    75th
    $56,040
    90th
    $58,090

    Las Cruces economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $55,663 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 83% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 17% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,500
    Urban Honolulu, HI $109,740
    Hawaii $105,440
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $101,200
    Springfield, IL $99,950

    Nearby metros — Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $94,110
    East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $81,290
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $79,500
    South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $78,770
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $77,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $76,080

    Related occupations in Las Cruces, NM

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $38,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $59,370
    Electricians $52,530
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $53,420
    Carpenters $44,910
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $45,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make per hour in Las Cruces?

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Las Cruces, NM is $22.32, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.20 or more per hour.

    Is Las Cruces above or below average for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries?

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Las Cruces, NM is 20.9% below the national median of $58,710. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Las Cruces?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $37,400 per year in Las Cruces, NM. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,000.