Sources: New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification, New Mexico Classified Service — FY27 Salary Schedule (effective 7/4/2026) and Classification and Pay Listing (effective 7/30/2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
New Mexico state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 4, 2026. These are the ranges New Mexico sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Operator Class W7051O Grade C4 | $42,773 – $64,160 a year |
| Senior Heavy Equipment Operator Class T2073A Grade C5 | $47,050 – $70,575 a year |
Schedule: FY27 Classified Service Salary Schedule (effective 7/4/2026). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification, New Mexico Classified Service — FY27 Salary Schedule (effective 7/4/2026) and Classification and Pay Listing (effective 7/30/2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in New Mexico, all employers Sourced
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) in New Mexico, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | NM |
|---|---|
| Workers | 5,520 |
| 10th percentile | $44,800 |
| Median | $52,000 |
| 90th percentile | $69,690 |
| National median, government employers | $52,750 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Heavy Equipment Operator (government) page.