Jobs that lost the most to inflation in New Mexico

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$94,640
Bachelor's degree
$47,410 – $167,810-42.2%-27.2% nominal
2Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,280
Associate's degree
$51,340 – $103,370-39.3%-23.5% nominal
3Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$47,340
Associate's degree
$36,720 – $98,760-34.3%-17.3% nominal
4Demonstrators and Product Promoters$29,110
No formal educational credential
$28,030 – $44,580-30.7%-12.7% nominal
5Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$49,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $90,080-29.9%-11.8% nominal
6Massage Therapists$37,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,430 – $91,730-27.2%-8.3% nominal
7Community Health Workers$54,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $73,110-26.3%-7.2% nominal
8Tax Preparers$38,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,250 – $60,000-25.2%-5.7% nominal
9Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$134,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,680 – $355,560-24.4%-4.8% nominal
10Production Workers, All Other$36,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,900 – $60,230-24.1%-4.4% nominal
11Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$74,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $104,790-23.5%-3.7% nominal
12Dentists, General$155,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,180 – $306,320-22.8%-2.8% nominal
13Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$36,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,230 – $63,140-22.0%-1.8% nominal
14Operations Research Analysts$80,360
Bachelor's degree
$49,940 – $150,030-21.8%-1.6% nominal
15Architectural and Civil Drafters$50,230
Associate's degree
$42,560 – $81,000-21.7%-1.3% nominal
16Physicists$165,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$120,720 – $235,180-21.5%-1.1% nominal
17Business Teachers, Postsecondary$83,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,680 – $173,650-20.7%-0.2% nominal
18Education Teachers, Postsecondary$64,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,670 – $108,790-20.1%+0.7% nominal
19Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$64,990
No formal educational credential
$47,400 – $101,900-19.9%+0.8% nominal
20Crane and Tower Operators$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,180 – $81,830-19.7%+1.1% nominal
21Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$47,360
Bachelor's degree
$36,770 – $80,990-19.4%+1.5% nominal
22First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$58,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,600 – $98,300-19.1%+1.9% nominal
23Surveyors$74,230
Bachelor's degree
$42,890 – $101,230-18.9%+2.2% nominal
24Pest Control Workers$37,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $70,410-18.7%+2.4% nominal
25Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$49,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $97,350-18.7%+2.4% nominal
26Medical Equipment Preparers$36,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,040 – $56,530-18.3%+2.8% nominal
27Detectives and Criminal Investigators$86,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $111,970-17.1%+4.4% nominal
28First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$55,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,370 – $84,440-15.2%+6.8% nominal
29Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$77,720
Bachelor's degree
$47,840 – $120,090-14.8%+7.3% nominal
30Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$67,100
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,660 – $104,710-14.5%+7.6% nominal
31Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$53,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $78,000-14.5%+7.7% nominal
32Biological Scientists, All Other$84,120
Bachelor's degree
$50,960 – $110,470-14.4%+7.8% nominal
33Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $81,340-14.0%+8.3% nominal
34Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$47,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,110 – $80,300-13.8%+8.6% nominal
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,290 – $84,480-13.7%+8.7% nominal
36First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $126,870-13.5%+8.9% nominal
37Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$84,510
Bachelor's degree
$48,730 – $132,090-12.8%+9.9% nominal
38General and Operations Managers$98,630
Bachelor's degree
$47,710 – $214,590-12.4%+10.3% nominal
39Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $115,060-12.4%+10.3% nominal
40Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $101,520-12.3%+10.4% nominal
41Compliance Officers$67,990
Bachelor's degree
$44,550 – $120,760-12.1%+10.7% nominal
42Conservation Scientists$76,800
Bachelor's degree
$46,520 – $111,010-12.1%+10.7% nominal
43Advertising Sales Agents$45,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,920 – $93,560-12.0%+10.8% nominal
44Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$38,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,250 – $58,630-11.7%+11.2% nominal
45Lodging Managers$67,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,740 – $93,590-10.9%+12.2% nominal
46Crossing Guards and Flaggers$31,460
No formal educational credential
$31,450 – $42,650-10.7%+12.5% nominal
47Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$43,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,740 – $70,720-10.6%+12.5% nominal
48Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$41,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $59,150-10.4%+12.9% nominal
49Commercial Pilots$97,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,680 – $219,010-10.3%+13.0% nominal
50First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$92,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,990 – $130,510-10.2%+13.1% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree	$94,640	$47,410 – $167,810	-42.2%-27.2% nominal
2	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,280	$51,340 – $103,370	-39.3%-23.5% nominal
3	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$47,340	$36,720 – $98,760	-34.3%-17.3% nominal
4	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$29,110	$28,030 – $44,580	-30.7%-12.7% nominal
5	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,930	$39,480 – $90,080	-29.9%-11.8% nominal
6	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,840	$29,430 – $91,730	-27.2%-8.3% nominal
7	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,830	$38,210 – $73,110	-26.3%-7.2% nominal
8	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,060	$27,250 – $60,000	-25.2%-5.7% nominal
9	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$134,600	$42,680 – $355,560	-24.4%-4.8% nominal
10	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,460	$29,900 – $60,230	-24.1%-4.4% nominal
11	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,340	$48,380 – $104,790	-23.5%-3.7% nominal
12	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$155,260	$101,180 – $306,320	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
13	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,980	$28,230 – $63,140	-22.0%-1.8% nominal
14	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$80,360	$49,940 – $150,030	-21.8%-1.6% nominal
15	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$50,230	$42,560 – $81,000	-21.7%-1.3% nominal
16	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$165,340	$120,720 – $235,180	-21.5%-1.1% nominal
17	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,980	$42,680 – $173,650	-20.7%-0.2% nominal
18	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$64,830	$39,670 – $108,790	-20.1%+0.7% nominal
19	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$64,990	$47,400 – $101,900	-19.9%+0.8% nominal
20	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$45,180 – $81,830	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
21	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$47,360	$36,770 – $80,990	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
22	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,430	$46,600 – $98,300	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
23	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$74,230	$42,890 – $101,230	-18.9%+2.2% nominal
24	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,070	$28,600 – $70,410	-18.7%+2.4% nominal
25	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,640	$36,850 – $97,350	-18.7%+2.4% nominal
26	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,720	$31,040 – $56,530	-18.3%+2.8% nominal
27	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,840	$47,480 – $111,970	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
28	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,790	$39,370 – $84,440	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
29	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$77,720	$47,840 – $120,090	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
30	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$67,100	$40,660 – $104,710	-14.5%+7.6% nominal
31	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,440	$37,010 – $78,000	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
32	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$84,120	$50,960 – $110,470	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
33	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,500	$36,080 – $81,340	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
34	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,850	$32,110 – $80,300	-13.8%+8.6% nominal
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,670	$41,290 – $84,480	-13.7%+8.7% nominal
36	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,640	$41,600 – $126,870	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
37	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$84,510	$48,730 – $132,090	-12.8%+9.9% nominal
38	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$98,630	$47,710 – $214,590	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
39	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$37,010 – $115,060	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
40	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,930	$40,620 – $101,520	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
41	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$67,990	$44,550 – $120,760	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
42	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$76,800	$46,520 – $111,010	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
43	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,620	$28,920 – $93,560	-12.0%+10.8% nominal
44	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,610	$35,250 – $58,630	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
45	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,320	$43,740 – $93,590	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
46	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$31,460	$31,450 – $42,650	-10.7%+12.5% nominal
47	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,960	$31,740 – $70,720	-10.6%+12.5% nominal
48	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,700	$36,440 – $59,150	-10.4%+12.9% nominal
49	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$97,920	$34,680 – $219,010	-10.3%+13.0% nominal
50	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,200	$59,990 – $130,510	-10.2%+13.1% nominal

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.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in New Mexico

More for New Mexico

Metro areas in New Mexico

By field in New Mexico

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state