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Average Salary in New Mexico
This page shows what jobs actually pay in New Mexico, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 610 occupations in New Mexico. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see New Mexico's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which New Mexico jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in New Mexico
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for New Mexico is neurologists, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 525.3% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 30 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), New Mexico pays 48.3% higher for this work. Next on the list are surgeons, all other at a mean of $239,200+ and cardiologists at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 440 people in New Mexico, so they describe the top of the New Mexico wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurologists | 30 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Surgeons, All Other | 100 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Cardiologists | 310 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 400 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Anesthesiologists | 60 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 1,640 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 150 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 710 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Psychiatrists | 130 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 100 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Pediatricians, General | 230 | $114.40 | $237,950 | $239,200+ |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 1,790 | $103.72 | $215,730 | $209,730 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 50 | $101.14 | $210,370 | $207,820 |
| Dentists, General | 660 | $82.56 | $171,730 | $191,570 |
| Podiatrists | 60 | $109.20 | $227,130 | $191,220 |
Largest occupations in New Mexico
The occupation with the most jobs in New Mexico is home health and personal care aides, employing an estimated 37,360 people at a median annual wage of $27,390 and a mean of $29,020. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $34,900, so New Mexico's typical pay for this work runs 21.5% lower. The next-largest occupations are secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive (24,510 jobs, median $42,960) and fast food and counter workers (23,990 jobs, median $28,650). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of New Mexico pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 37,360 | $27,390 | $29,020 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 24,510 | $42,960 | $44,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 23,990 | $28,650 | $30,130 |
| Retail Salespersons | 23,260 | $31,360 | $34,550 |
| Cashiers | 19,790 | $29,230 | $30,590 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 18,520 | $38,060 | $41,250 |
| Registered Nurses | 17,510 | $88,260 | $94,360 |
| General and Operations Managers | 16,550 | $100,200 | $119,280 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 15,800 | $35,670 | $38,000 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 14,560 | $33,640 | $34,160 |
| Office Clerks, General | 14,270 | $36,310 | $38,030 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 13,370 | $30,440 | $38,420 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 10,850 | $48,360 | $51,530 |
| Construction Laborers | 10,530 | $38,520 | $41,770 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 9,340 | $37,000 | $38,810 |
Where New Mexico pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's New Mexico median with its own national median shows where New Mexico's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 New Mexico jobs, the largest premium is for mechanical engineers: a median of $141,490 in New Mexico versus $102,320 nationally, 38.3% higher. The largest discount is for firefighters, at $42,920 in New Mexico versus $59,530 nationally, 27.9% lower. In total, 40 of the 176 occupations with 1,000 or more New Mexico jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 197 of the 610 occupations published for New Mexico have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of New Mexico's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | New Mexico median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | $141,490 | $102,320 | +38.3% |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $60,960 | $46,390 | +31.4% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $215,730 | $167,740 | +28.6% |
| Electrical Engineers | $143,850 | $111,910 | +28.5% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,170 | $105,620 | +22.3% |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $59,130 | $78,140 | -24.3% |
| Financial Managers | $122,180 | $161,700 | -24.4% |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $46,530 | $61,890 | -24.8% |
| Lawyers | $112,500 | $151,160 | -25.6% |
| Firefighters | $42,920 | $59,530 | -27.9% |
New Mexico salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in New Mexico?
By average pay, neurologists is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for New Mexico, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in New Mexico?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In New Mexico, the largest occupation, home health and personal care aides, paid a median of $27,390 across 37,360 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 610 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in New Mexico have?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides is the largest occupation published for New Mexico, with an estimated 37,360 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $29,020.
Which occupations pay more in New Mexico than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 New Mexico jobs, mechanical engineers shows the largest premium: a median of $141,490 in New Mexico versus $102,320 nationally, 38.3% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.