Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
63 Highest Paying Jobs in New Mexico (2026)
The highest-paying job in New Mexico is Pediatrician with a state-aggregated median salary of $214,520 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 1 BLS-tracked metro. Across all 63 occupations the average median is $101,926, with 27 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. New Mexico's average cost-of-living index is 94, so the average median equates to $108,432 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
The 63 occupations below are ranked by median wage across New Mexico — rolling up wage data across all metropolitan areas in the state. State-level rollups smooth over the substantial intra-state wage variation typical of larger states. For state-level wage comparisons, BLS OEWS state files aggregate across MSAs and non-MSA areas. The aggregation hides legitimate within-state differences: a job in New Mexico's primary metro often pays substantially more (and costs substantially more to live near) than the same job in smaller cities.
Use the per-metro pages for the geographic-specific view. The state-level ranking is most useful for comparing New Mexico to other states, not for comparing within-state options.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in New Mexico
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across New Mexico's single tracked metro.
State median $214,520 · 140 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($214,520)
Pediatricians in New Mexico earn $214,520 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $214,520 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $185,200 · 210 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($185,200)
Family Medicine Physicians in New Mexico earn $185,200 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $185,200 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $165,810 · 70 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($165,810)
Optometrists in New Mexico earn $165,810 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $165,810 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $165,690 · 220 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($165,690)
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in New Mexico earn $165,690 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $165,690 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $163,720 · 1,280 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($163,720)
Electrical Engineers in New Mexico earn $163,720 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $163,720 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $163,630 · 1,110 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($163,630)
Engineers (Other)s in New Mexico earn $163,630 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $163,630 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $147,000 · 1,000 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($147,000)
Pharmacists in New Mexico earn $147,000 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $147,000 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $141,580 · 460 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($141,580)
Dentists in New Mexico earn $141,580 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $141,580 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $140,950 · 890 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($140,950)
Nurse Practitioners in New Mexico earn $140,950 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $140,950 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $140,200 · 240 jobs · top metro: Albuquerque ($140,200)
Veterinarians in New Mexico earn $140,200 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Albuquerque) pays $140,200 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 63 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $214,520 | Albuquerque | $214,520 | 140 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $185,200 | Albuquerque | $185,200 | 210 |
| 3 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $165,810 | Albuquerque | $165,810 | 70 |
| 4 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $165,690 | Albuquerque | $165,690 | 220 |
| 5 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $163,720 | Albuquerque | $163,720 | 1,280 |
| 6 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $163,630 | Albuquerque | $163,630 | 1,110 |
| 7 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $147,000 | Albuquerque | $147,000 | 1,000 |
| 8 | Dentist | Healthcare | $141,580 | Albuquerque | $141,580 | 460 |
| 9 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $140,950 | Albuquerque | $140,950 | 890 |
| 10 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $140,200 | Albuquerque | $140,200 | 240 |
| 11 | Financial Manager | Finance | $140,110 | Albuquerque | $140,110 | 1,430 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $139,920 | Albuquerque | $139,920 | 380 |
| 13 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $139,530 | Albuquerque | $139,530 | 840 |
| 14 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $132,290 | Albuquerque | $132,290 | 820 |
| 15 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $129,560 | Albuquerque | $129,560 | 1,240 |
| 16 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $127,820 | Albuquerque | $127,820 | 870 |
| 17 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $125,470 | Albuquerque | $125,470 | 1,550 |
| 18 | Software Developer | Technology | $123,700 | Albuquerque | $123,700 | 2,280 |
| 19 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $121,990 | Albuquerque | $121,990 | 430 |
| 20 | Marketing Manager | Management | $119,180 | Albuquerque | $119,180 | 490 |
| 21 | Lawyer | Legal | $114,610 | Albuquerque | $114,610 | 1,960 |
| 22 | Sales Manager | Management | $110,160 | Albuquerque | $110,160 | 860 |
| 23 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $109,080 | Albuquerque | $109,080 | 220 |
| 24 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $108,230 | Albuquerque | $108,230 | 230 |
| 25 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $105,080 | Albuquerque | $105,080 | 680 |
| 26 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $103,510 | Albuquerque | $103,510 | 690 |
| 27 | Management Analyst | Management | $100,130 | Albuquerque | $100,130 | 2,030 |
| 28 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $99,170 | Albuquerque | $99,170 | 550 |
| 29 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $99,160 | Albuquerque | $99,160 | 580 |
| 30 | Data Scientist | Technology | $98,750 | Albuquerque | $98,750 | 360 |
| 31 | Database Architect | Technology | $98,450 | Albuquerque | $98,450 | 240 |
| 32 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $98,220 | Albuquerque | $98,220 | 1,240 |
| 33 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $96,040 | Albuquerque | $96,040 | 10,290 |
| 34 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $95,990 | Albuquerque | $95,990 | 290 |
| 35 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $95,900 | Albuquerque | $95,900 | 810 |
| 36 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $94,640 | Albuquerque | $94,640 | 7,670 |
| 37 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $92,440 | Albuquerque | $92,440 | 40 |
| 38 | Network Architect | Technology | $86,540 | Albuquerque | $86,540 | 650 |
| 39 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $86,420 | Albuquerque | $86,420 | 600 |
| 40 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $83,750 | Albuquerque | $83,750 | 370 |
| 41 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $82,900 | Albuquerque | $82,900 | 210 |
| 42 | Accountant | Finance | $79,880 | Albuquerque | $79,880 | 3,260 |
| 43 | Statistician | Technology | $79,750 | Albuquerque | $79,750 | 140 |
| 44 | Web Designer | Technology | $77,920 | Albuquerque | $77,920 | 50 |
| 45 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $76,960 | Albuquerque | $76,960 | 3,360 |
| 46 | Architect | Engineering | $76,520 | Albuquerque | $76,520 | 410 |
| 47 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $75,520 | Albuquerque | $75,520 | 1,900 |
| 48 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $75,000 | Albuquerque | $75,000 | 250 |
| 49 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $73,640 | Albuquerque | $73,640 | 560 |
| 50 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $68,440 | Albuquerque | $68,440 | 120 |
| 51 | Plumber | Trades | $63,900 | Albuquerque | $63,900 | 1,440 |
| 52 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $63,810 | Albuquerque | $63,810 | 480 |
| 53 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $62,410 | Albuquerque | $62,410 | 710 |
| 54 | Loan Officer | Finance | $62,250 | Albuquerque | $62,250 | 630 |
| 55 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $62,040 | Albuquerque | $62,040 | 900 |
| 56 | Carpenter | Trades | $60,080 | Albuquerque | $60,080 | 1,940 |
| 57 | Paralegal | Legal | $59,370 | Albuquerque | $59,370 | 1,070 |
| 58 | Electrician | Trades | $59,120 | Albuquerque | $59,120 | 2,440 |
| 59 | Web Developer | Technology | $58,180 | Albuquerque | $58,180 | 100 |
| 60 | Writer/Author | Creative | $53,490 | Albuquerque | $53,490 | 60 |
| 61 | Welder | Trades | $49,980 | Albuquerque | $49,980 | 510 |
| 62 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $48,820 | Albuquerque | $48,820 | 2,320 |
| 63 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $47,240 | Albuquerque | $47,240 | 1,280 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in New Mexico
New Mexico's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
$New Mexico tracks $1 BLS-published metros covering approximately $70,450 workers across the $63 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Pediatrician top spot reflects Albuquerque pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in New Mexico typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within New Mexico, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in New Mexico is Pediatrician with a state median salary of $214,520. The top-paying metro for this role is Albuquerque at $214,520 median. The role employs roughly 140 workers across New Mexico.
27 of the 63 BLS-tracked occupations in New Mexico have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 63 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in New Mexico is $101,926. The figure is employment-weighted across 1 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $108,432.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For New Mexico, this page aggregates Albuquerque. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
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. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in New Mexico.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in New Mexico, using OEWS 2025 data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.