Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Albuquerque, NM Average Salary 2026
Cost of living, occupation-by-occupation pay, and percentile ranges from official BLS data.
The average salary in Albuquerque, NM, New Mexico is $101,926 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (2025 reference period) covering 63 occupations and roughly 70,450 workers. Adjusted for Albuquerque, NM's cost-of-living index of 94, that nominal average translates to $108,432 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. The highest-paying tracked occupation is Pediatrician at $214,520; the lowest is Clinical Laboratory Technologist at $47,240.
Albuquerque, NM, NM has below-baseline cost-of-living (index 94.0), which means the $101,926 average median wage translates to higher real purchasing power than the same number would in higher-COL markets.
Highest-paying role in Albuquerque, NM on BLS data is Pediatrician at $214,520 median. Top-paying roles in any U.S. city skew toward physicians, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals; the specific ranking varies with the local industry mix. Lower-COL cities like Albuquerque, NM often outperform higher-COL ones on cost-adjusted real income for the same role, especially for workers in mid-paying occupations whose gross wages do not vary as much by city.
Salaries by Occupation in Albuquerque, NM
| Role | Category | Median | Range (10th–90th) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatrician | Healthcare | $214,520 | $133,990 – $313,200 | 140 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $185,200 | $64,490 – $315,340 | 210 |
| Optometrist | Healthcare | $165,810 | $62,110 – $209,220 | 70 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $165,690 | $108,510 – $285,530 | 220 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $163,720 | $104,230 – $202,680 | 1,280 |
| Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $163,630 | $94,950 – $203,280 | 1,110 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $147,000 | $104,180 – $178,900 | 1,000 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $141,580 | $107,650 – $305,790 | 460 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $140,950 | $110,880 – $179,020 | 890 |
| Veterinarian | Healthcare | $140,200 | $90,990 – $222,390 | 240 |
| Financial Manager | Finance | $140,110 | $96,780 – $221,470 | 1,430 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $139,920 | $69,430 – $179,420 | 380 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $139,530 | $98,180 – $260,140 | 840 |
| Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $132,290 | $81,270 – $208,000 | 820 |
| Information Security Analyst | Technology | $129,560 | $101,460 – $203,850 | 1,240 |
| Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $127,820 | $65,860 – $201,250 | 870 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $125,470 | $82,180 – $201,770 | 1,550 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $123,700 | $78,290 – $182,580 | 2,280 |
| Human Resources Manager | Management | $121,990 | $80,950 – $205,090 | 430 |
| Marketing Manager | Management | $119,180 | $79,590 – $197,470 | 490 |
| Lawyer | Legal | $114,610 | $77,600 – $232,890 | 1,960 |
| Sales Manager | Management | $110,160 | $64,310 – $208,020 | 860 |
| Computer Network Architect | Technology | $109,080 | $74,600 – $154,790 | 220 |
| Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $108,230 | $70,590 – $160,430 | 230 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $105,080 | $74,780 – $155,290 | 680 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $103,510 | $77,570 – $135,320 | 690 |
| Management Analyst | Management | $100,130 | $61,530 – $139,480 | 2,030 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $99,170 | $74,150 – $133,050 | 550 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $99,160 | $61,630 – $133,050 | 580 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $98,750 | $58,260 – $132,750 | 360 |
| Database Architect | Technology | $98,450 | $65,700 – $141,580 | 240 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $98,220 | $62,650 – $140,670 | 1,240 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $96,040 | $80,090 – $123,540 | 10,290 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $95,990 | $64,380 – $493,730 | 290 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $95,900 | $83,670 – $100,770 | 810 |
| General and Operations Manager | Management | $94,640 | $44,610 – $217,000 | 7,670 |
| Audiologist | Healthcare | $92,440 | $64,770 – $132,870 | 40 |
| Network Architect | Technology | $86,540 | $63,190 – $124,370 | 650 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $86,420 | $63,630 – $141,210 | 600 |
| Computer Programmer | Technology | $83,750 | $55,500 – $121,370 | 370 |
| Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $82,900 | $42,680 – $178,210 | 210 |
| Accountant | Finance | $79,880 | $55,990 – $126,260 | 3,260 |
| Statistician | Technology | $79,750 | $52,840 – $124,520 | 140 |
| Web Designer | Technology | $77,920 | $59,260 – $112,770 | 50 |
| Secondary School Teacher | Education | $76,960 | $59,840 – $81,260 | 3,360 |
| Architect | Engineering | $76,520 | $47,840 – $120,090 | 410 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Education | $75,520 | $60,470 – $83,850 | 1,900 |
| Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $75,000 | $48,760 – $157,750 | 250 |
| Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $73,640 | $47,990 – $127,150 | 560 |
| Financial Examiner | Finance | $68,440 | $49,460 – $116,540 | 120 |
| Plumber | Trades | $63,900 | $37,280 – $87,920 | 1,440 |
| Graphic Designer | Creative | $63,810 | $38,980 – $75,680 | 480 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $62,410 | $46,680 – $99,530 | 710 |
| Loan Officer | Finance | $62,250 | $26,240 – $104,500 | 630 |
| Market Research Analyst | Management | $62,040 | $41,640 – $98,580 | 900 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $60,080 | $41,600 – $79,450 | 1,940 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $59,370 | $41,050 – $79,730 | 1,070 |
| Electrician | Trades | $59,120 | $36,650 – $81,310 | 2,440 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $58,180 | $29,710 – $123,910 | 100 |
| Writer/Author | Creative | $53,490 | $47,380 – $93,100 | 60 |
| Welder | Trades | $49,980 | $37,040 – $79,060 | 510 |
| Automotive Technician | Trades | $48,820 | $31,190 – $79,240 | 2,320 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $47,240 | $36,770 – $78,870 | 1,280 |
What These Numbers Tell You
The single highest-paying occupation tracked in Albuquerque, NM is Pediatrician, with a median of $214,520 and a 90th-percentile reading of $313,200. That $179,210 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles is typical for a role of this seniority — entry-level workers cluster near the bottom of the band, while senior specialists and managers earn at the top.
Across all 63 BLS-tracked occupations in Albuquerque, NM, the average median salary is $101,926. The top five roles average $178,988 — about 1.8× the citywide average — which is the expected shape for a U.S. metro economy: a small concentration of high-skill, high-credential occupations sits well above the broader middle.
Albuquerque, NM runs below the U.S. average on cost of living (index 94, about 6% below the national mean). Lower nominal salaries here often translate to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs.
Salary Negotiation in Albuquerque, NM
For salary negotiation in Albuquerque, NM, the practical input is the percentile band for your role and city, not the citywide average. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages for every metro and occupation; you can find your role's exact percentile in the table above and use the SalaryTruth percentile calculator to anchor your offer. Cost-of-living index 94 should also factor in any cross-metro comparison.
For city-vs-city moves, the right benchmark is COL-adjusted pay rather than nominal pay. Our COL-adjusted salaries guide shows the exact math; the negotiation playbook covers how to use BLS percentile bands to anchor offers.
How Albuquerque, NM Salary Data Is Built
Wages on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — a federal survey of more than 1.2 million U.S. establishments, published once per year by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. We pull the BLS data file for Albuquerque, NM, match each occupation against our role catalog, and surface percentile wages alongside employment counts. The cost-of-living index (94) is a composite of housing, food, transportation, and utility data from public sources, calibrated to a U.S. national average of 100. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Albuquerque, NM in 2026?
The average salary in Albuquerque, NM is $101,926 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release covering 63 occupations. The mean (employment-weighted average) gives slightly more weight to large occupations; the median across roles is also close to $101,926. The top-paying role is Pediatrician at $214,520.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Albuquerque, NM?
In Albuquerque, NM, $100,000 has the purchasing power of $106,383 in an average-cost U.S. metro (COL index 94). That is above $100K of buying power — a $100K salary stretches further in Albuquerque, NM than in most U.S. metros. Compared to the city's average median of $101,926, $100K is below the typical worker.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Albuquerque, NM?
The top-paying tracked occupations in Albuquerque, NM are Pediatrician ($214,520), Family Medicine Physician ($185,200), Optometrist ($165,810), and Software Quality Assurance Analyst ($165,690). Across the top 10, median salaries range from $140,200 to $214,520. See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/albuquerque.
How does Albuquerque, NM's cost of living affect salaries?
Albuquerque, NM has a cost-of-living index of 94, 6% below the U.S. national average. A nominal salary of $101,926 in this metro has the equivalent purchasing power of $108,432 in an average-cost U.S. city. Housing is the dominant driver of this gap; in higher-COL markets, mortgage or rent typically eats 5–15 percentage points more of pre-tax pay than in average-cost metros.
How many people are employed in Albuquerque, NM?
Across the 63 BLS-tracked occupations on this page, total employment in the Albuquerque, NM metro is approximately 70,450. BLS OEWS sample-based estimates cover all major occupational categories but exclude very small or volatile fields where the sample is too thin to publish.
Where does this Albuquerque, NM salary data come from?
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. The same data is used by the U.S. Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Albuquerque, NM MSA, 2026 release. Public domain. See bls.gov/oes. Cite as: "SalaryTruth, BLS OEWS 2026."
Last refreshed 2026-05-21 · 63 occupations · COL Index 94.