Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in New Mexico make a median of $83,370 a year, or about $40.08 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $89,587 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 21.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $83K get you in New Mexico?
About rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $70K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Mexico offers a genuinely strong financial position for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,770/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $83K here vs. $70K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators?
New Mexico pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $70K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in New Mexico?
The median is $83,370 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,160, and experienced rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators can clear $90,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,329/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary is worth about $89,587 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.