Crane and Tower Operators salary in New Mexico
Crane and Tower Operators in New Mexico earn a median of $62,400 a year ($30.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,830 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $68,080. New Mexico ranks 34th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.34 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,180 | $21.72 |
| 25th percentile | $61,630 | $29.63 |
| Median | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 75th percentile | $67,280 | $32.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| Average (mean) | $63,550 | $30.56 |
Half of crane and tower operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,200 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,600 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,400 |
| Weekly | $1,200 |
| Hourly | $30.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in cities in New Mexico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | $81,830 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for crane and tower operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124,260 |
| Nevada | $115,840 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 |
| Washington | $101,110 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 |
| Alaska | $92,490 |
| Maryland | $87,950 |
| New York | $85,850 |
| Oregon | $83,260 |
Related jobs in New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,830 | $17.22 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $47,660 | $22.92 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $78,010 | $37.50 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $28,070 | $13.50 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,360 | $20.37 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $55,790 | $26.82 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $45,470 | $21.86 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operators make in New Mexico?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in New Mexico is $62,400 a year, or $30.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in New Mexico earn at least $81,830 a year. The top 25% earn $67,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,180 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $61,630 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in New Mexico?
About 290 crane and tower operators are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.