High paying jobs in Santa Fe, NM that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Santa Fe, NM, 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 Santa Fe, NM run 1.2% below the national average (2024), so a Santa Fe, NM salary is worth about 1.01× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Santa Fe, NM

OccupationMedian, Santa Fe, NM · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$99,260
Associate's degree
$93,210 – $120,880120
2Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$89,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,760 – $110,47050
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$86,000
Associate's degree
$61,040 – $125,50060
4Computer Network Support Specialists$83,650
Associate's degree
$47,390 – $119,54060
5Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$83,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,440 – $93,57050
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,080 – $97,090310
7Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$72,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,930 – $85,90070
8Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,450
Associate's degree
$56,260 – $93,140140
9Physical Therapist Assistants$70,200
Associate's degree
$59,660 – $93,60040
10Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$69,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $97,200240
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,870 – $136,760180
12Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$67,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,840 – $83,540190
13Surveying and Mapping Technicians$66,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $96,80040
14Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,370
Associate's degree
$38,300 – $82,96070
15Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $83,41050
16Tutors$62,400
Some college, no degree
$37,930 – $102,030110
17Medical Records Specialists$62,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,240 – $100,55090
18Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040130
19Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,320
Associate's degree
$54,310 – $80,490280
20Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $74,03040
21Carpenters$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $85,040210
22Computer User Support Specialists$58,920
Some college, no degree
$43,720 – $78,580270
23Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,790 – $103,010260
24Forest and Conservation Technicians$58,280
Associate's degree
$48,460 – $96,47050
25Electricians$57,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,280 – $82,800150
26Plasterers and Stucco Masons$57,150
No formal educational credential
$45,450 – $61,85060
27Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,780 – $105,31050
28Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$55,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,500 – $92,130370
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $64,04060
30Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$54,830
No formal educational credential
$42,940 – $57,54050
31Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$54,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,640 – $61,56030
32Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,370 – $78,71030
33Procurement Clerks$52,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $65,64030
34Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$52,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $71,050140
35Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$51,430
No formal educational credential
$42,900 – $56,99080
36Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,840 – $65,700200
37Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,890
Some college, no degree
$36,460 – $76,220560
38Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$50,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,040 – $64,79030
39Photographers$50,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,660 – $88,25040
40Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $79,62070
41Highway Maintenance Workers$50,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,490 – $59,63080
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$50,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,060 – $78,150160
43Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$50,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $75,9402,410
44Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$50,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,160 – $58,46050
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$49,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,300 – $73,860150
46Social and Human Service Assistants$48,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,130 – $62,420160
47Billing and Posting Clerks$48,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,530 – $61,770110
48Pharmacy Technicians$47,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,680 – $59,340160
49Painters, Construction and Maintenance$47,840
No formal educational credential
$44,150 – $74,86090
50Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $52,210100

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

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Fe, NM	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$99,260	$93,210 – $120,880	120
2	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,010	$61,760 – $110,470	50
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,000	$61,040 – $125,500	60
4	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$83,650	$47,390 – $119,540	60
5	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,620	$40,440 – $93,570	50
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,640	$54,080 – $97,090	310
7	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,750	$52,930 – $85,900	70
8	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,450	$56,260 – $93,140	140
9	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,200	$59,660 – $93,600	40
10	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,870	$41,010 – $97,200	240
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,200	$38,870 – $136,760	180
12	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,600	$42,840 – $83,540	190
13	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,310	$44,010 – $96,800	40
14	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,370	$38,300 – $82,960	70
15	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,790	$45,440 – $83,410	50
16	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,400	$37,930 – $102,030	110
17	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,280	$38,240 – $100,550	90
18	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$43,120 – $81,040	130
19	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,320	$54,310 – $80,490	280
20	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $74,030	40
21	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$45,320 – $85,040	210
22	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,920	$43,720 – $78,580	270
23	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$33,790 – $103,010	260
24	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,280	$48,460 – $96,470	50
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,250	$37,280 – $82,800	150
26	Plasterers and Stucco MasonsNo formal educational credential	$57,150	$45,450 – $61,850	60
27	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,590	$39,780 – $105,310	50
28	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,640	$35,500 – $92,130	370
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$46,840 – $64,040	60
30	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$54,830	$42,940 – $57,540	50
31	Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,080	$36,640 – $61,560	30
32	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,820	$43,370 – $78,710	30
33	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,170	$41,600 – $65,640	30
34	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,000	$46,140 – $71,050	140
35	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$51,430	$42,900 – $56,990	80
36	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,120	$40,840 – $65,700	200
37	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$50,890	$36,460 – $76,220	560
38	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,880	$43,040 – $64,790	30
39	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,670	$36,660 – $88,250	40
40	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,660	$34,750 – $79,620	70
41	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,610	$39,490 – $59,630	80
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,180	$37,060 – $78,150	160
43	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,170	$36,820 – $75,940	2,410
44	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,040	$41,160 – $58,460	50
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,360	$39,300 – $73,860	150
46	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,810	$37,130 – $62,420	160
47	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,620	$36,530 – $61,770	110
48	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,890	$38,680 – $59,340	160
49	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$47,840	$44,150 – $74,860	90
50	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$43,970 – $52,210	100

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Santa Fe, NM. 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.

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

High paying jobs in Santa Fe, NM that need no experience

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