Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in New Mexico
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in New Mexico earn a median of $76,350 a year ($36.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,880 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $57,430. New Mexico ranks 5th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.32 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,590, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| 25th percentile | $50,450 | $24.26 |
| Median | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| 75th percentile | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,880 | $41.29 |
| Average (mean) | $67,590 | $32.50 |
Half of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining 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 | $6,362.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,181.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,936.54 |
| Weekly | $1,468.27 |
| Hourly | $36.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in cities in New Mexico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Farmington, NM | $85,880 | 50 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $64,650 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $90,380 |
| Illinois | $80,600 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 |
| Alaska | $74,680 |
| California | $74,500 |
| Montana | $65,850 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 |
See Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay in every state.
Related jobs in New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $82,780 | $39.80 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $54,840 | $26.37 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,140 | $28.91 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $78,960 | $37.96 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,130 | $36.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Electrician | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Carpenter | $59,720 | $28.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,440 | $29.54 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5022. 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in New Mexico?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Mexico is $76,350 a year, or $36.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Mexico earn at least $85,880 a year. The top 25% earn $76,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,840 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $50,450 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in New Mexico?
About 270 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.