High paying jobs in New Mexico that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in New Mexico, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a New Mexico salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in New Mexico.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in New Mexico

OccupationMedian, New Mexico · Employed

1Air Traffic Controllers$148,550
Associate's degree
$77,400 – $187,790350
2Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$119,320
Associate's degree
$98,350 – $123,240670
3Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$101,750
Associate's degree
$65,170 – $123,2601,390
4Electrical and Electronics Drafters$101,330
Associate's degree
$55,000 – $124,470390
5Boilermakers$101,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,160 – $119,550300
6Commercial Pilots$97,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,680 – $219,010370
7Gas Plant Operators$97,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,440 – $108,670300
8Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,560
Associate's degree
$56,400 – $122,690320
9Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,070
Associate's degree
$59,940 – $124,1101,000
10Dental Hygienists$95,940
Associate's degree
$82,180 – $105,4401,420
11Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$87,210
Associate's degree
$65,250 – $108,030410
12Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$84,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,690 – $99,020860
13Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$80,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,610 – $101,170420
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,940
Associate's degree
$59,560 – $104,1201,150
15Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$79,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $135,200790
16Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$77,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,890 – $77,890400
17Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,020
Associate's degree
$36,820 – $94,000300
18Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $105,5901,020
19Real Estate Sales Agents$76,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $151,560550
20Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$74,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $104,790420
21Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$69,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $85,7404,580
22Respiratory Therapists$68,870
Associate's degree
$61,990 – $91,220840
23Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $101,5201,280
24Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$67,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,630 – $104,060320
25Protective Service Workers, All Other$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,480 – $126,050650
26Computer Network Support Specialists$64,550
Associate's degree
$46,690 – $124,4001,300
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,760 – $89,3201,470
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,550 – $85,6901,100
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,440
Associate's degree
$47,380 – $86,240710
30Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$62,330
Associate's degree
$42,890 – $125,840500
31Physical Therapist Assistants$62,280
Associate's degree
$30,470 – $85,040700
32Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$62,150
No formal educational credential
$35,900 – $65,0902,620
33Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,290 – $117,7303,790
34Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $87,7002,830
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $115,0603,660
36Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,280
Associate's degree
$51,340 – $103,370480
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,290 – $84,4802,780
38Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030660
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,570
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$59,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $92,7602,390
41Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,840
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $80,4901,740
42Carpenters$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $77,7903,630
43Machinists$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,250 – $90,170690
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$59,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,090 – $78,1102,460
45Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,280350
46Electricians$58,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $86,8305,020
47Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$58,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,900 – $77,220630
48Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,280 – $78,330350
49Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$57,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,730 – $82,780480
50Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$57,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,060 – $71,8001,400

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNew Mexico	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$148,550	$77,400 – $187,790	350
2	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$119,320	$98,350 – $123,240	670
3	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$101,750	$65,170 – $123,260	1,390
4	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$101,330	$55,000 – $124,470	390
5	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,200	$62,160 – $119,550	300
6	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$97,920	$34,680 – $219,010	370
7	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,660	$72,440 – $108,670	300
8	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,560	$56,400 – $122,690	320
9	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,070	$59,940 – $124,110	1,000
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,940	$82,180 – $105,440	1,420
11	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$87,210	$65,250 – $108,030	410
12	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,440	$49,690 – $99,020	860
13	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,590	$57,610 – $101,170	420
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,940	$59,560 – $104,120	1,150
15	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,490	$47,510 – $135,200	790
16	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,890	$64,890 – $77,890	400
17	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,020	$36,820 – $94,000	300
18	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,470	$46,640 – $105,590	1,020
19	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,170	$38,340 – $151,560	550
20	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,340	$48,380 – $104,790	420
21	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,180	$48,400 – $85,740	4,580
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,870	$61,990 – $91,220	840
23	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,930	$40,620 – $101,520	1,280
24	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,520	$45,630 – $104,060	320
25	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$34,480 – $126,050	650
26	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,550	$46,690 – $124,400	1,300
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,630	$44,760 – $89,320	1,470
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,600	$43,550 – $85,690	1,100
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,440	$47,380 – $86,240	710
30	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$62,330	$42,890 – $125,840	500
31	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,280	$30,470 – $85,040	700
32	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$62,150	$35,900 – $65,090	2,620
33	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$34,290 – $117,730	3,790
34	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$36,160 – $87,700	2,830
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$37,010 – $115,060	3,660
36	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,280	$51,340 – $103,370	480
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,670	$41,290 – $84,480	2,780
38	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	660
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	1,570
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,840	$36,860 – $92,760	2,390
41	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,840	$43,660 – $80,490	1,740
42	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$40,100 – $77,790	3,630
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$39,250 – $90,170	690
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,330	$38,090 – $78,110	2,460
45	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,280	350
46	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,390	$36,650 – $86,830	5,020
47	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,350	$34,900 – $77,220	630
48	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,130	$40,280 – $78,330	350
49	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,940	$40,730 – $82,780	480
50	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,800	$41,060 – $71,800	1,400

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in New Mexico. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for New Mexico

Metro areas in New Mexico

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in New Mexico

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in New Mexico to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in New Mexico that need no experience

More for New Mexico

Metro areas in New Mexico

By field in New Mexico

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience