Average Salaries in New Mexico
Explore salaries across 645 occupations in New Mexico. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $68.1K, +3.6% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 645 occupations and 860,180 total jobs in New Mexico.
How the state compares
Wages in New Mexico track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
New Mexico has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Emergency Medicine Physicians. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in New Mexico
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in New Mexico
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $405.1K | 340 |
| Anesthesiologists | $394K | 50 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $363.9K | 150 |
| Physicians, All Other | $327.7K | 1,930 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $260K | 110 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $228K | 650 |
| Psychiatrists | $227.7K | N/A |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $215.1K | 2,270 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $205.4K | 250 |
| Podiatrists | $202.7K | 60 |
Largest occupations in New Mexico
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 38,910 | $28.5K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 28,250 | $28.7K |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 25,430 | $46.5K |
| Retail Salespersons | 23,800 | $33.3K |
| Cashiers | 19,020 | $30.1K |
| Registered Nurses | 17,980 | $94.3K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 16,950 | $39K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 16,540 | $35.8K |
| General And Operations Managers | 16,330 | $98.6K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 14,360 | $36K |
What New Mexico specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in New Mexico than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in New Mexico
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Derrick Operators, Oil And Gas | 14.84 | $59.6K |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 12.25 | $165.4K |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil And Gas | 10.75 | $65K |
| Wellhead Pumpers | 10.49 | $78K |
| Roustabouts, Oil And Gas | 8.82 | $50K |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas | 8.23 | $82.8K |
| Mining And Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 7.97 | N/A |
| Electro-Mechanical And Mechatronics Technologists And Technicians | 7.73 | $119.3K |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 6.06 | $48.9K |
| Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 5.94 | $57.2K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside New Mexico
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in New Mexico
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $66.9K | 389,520 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $62.8K | 72,450 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $66.4K | 56,090 |
| Farmington, NM | $59.1K | 42,190 |
Common salary questions for New Mexico
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.