Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,020 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Las Cruces earn between $51,670 and $99,020.
- $45K10th
- $52K25th
- $82KMedian
- $99K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,450 | $6,121 | $35.31 |
| Median | $81,830 | $6,819 | $39.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,670 | $4,306 | $24.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,020 | $8,252 | $47.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Las Cruces earn 16% more than the New Mexico average ($63,550) and about the same as the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $73,450 | $81,830 | $44,800 | $99,020 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $63,550 | $62,400 | $45,180 | $81,830 | 290 |
| United States | $72,130 | $68,080 | $42,640 | $103,570 | 42,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Crane and Tower Operators salary after taxes in Las Cruces
On the average salary of $73,450, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $58,216 a year, or $4,851 a month and $2,239 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Las Cruces a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $73,450 buys what about $81,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- El Paso, TX$62,230
- Odessa, TX$74,020
- Midland, TX$78,410
- Tucson, AZ$68,400
- Phoenix, AZ$70,860
- Prescott Valley, AZ$69,210
Highest-paying cities for crane and tower operators
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,530).
- Honolulu, HI$118,530
- New York, NY$116,710
- Las Vegas, NV$115,300
- Kennewick, WA$111,710
- Buffalo, NY$109,610
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Crane and Tower Operators salary in Las Cruces: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Las Cruces?
$35.31 an hour on average, and $39.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $58,216 a year ($4,851 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,450.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($72,130).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-7021; area Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.30, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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