Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in New Mexico (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in New Mexico, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
New Mexico Median
$76,350
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.71
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+33% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#5 of 49
270 employed here

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in New Mexico?

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining working in New Mexico earn a median salary of $76,350 per year, or about $36.71 per hour. That is 33% above the national median of $57,430 for this occupation.

Within New Mexico, entry-level pay starts around $44,840 while the top 10% make $85,880 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,450 and $76,350 a year.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary range in New Mexico

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$44,840$21.56
25th percentile (early career)$50,450$24.25
50th percentile (median)$76,350$36.71
75th percentile (experienced)$76,350$36.71
90th percentile (top earners)$85,880$41.29

How New Mexico compares

New Mexico ranks 5th out of 49 states and territories for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1North Dakota$90,380
2Illinois$80,600
3New Jersey$80,310
4Wyoming$78,230
5New Mexico$76,350

Working as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in New Mexico

Nationally, about 34,000 people work as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare New Mexico pay ($76,350) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in New Mexico?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in New Mexico is $76,350 per year, or about $36.71 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $44,840 at the entry level to $85,880 for the top 10% of earners.
How does New Mexico pay compare to the national average?
New Mexico pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 33% more than the national median of $57,430. New Mexico ranks 5th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is New Mexico a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Yes on pay — New Mexico pays above the national median for this occupation, at $76,350 a year. About 270 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in New Mexico. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in New Mexico?
The highest-paying occupations in New Mexico include Emergency Medicine Physician ($405,130), Anesthesiologist ($393,970), Surgeon, All Other ($363,940), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.