Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Albuquerque, NM

Each occupation's median wage in Albuquerque, NM compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Albuquerque, NM pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Albuquerque, NM run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Albuquerque, NM salary is worth about 1.05× 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 Albuquerque, NM

OccupationMedian, Albuquerque, NM · vs. national

1Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$178,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,680 – $355,560+66.1%
2Chemists$126,960
Bachelor's degree
$58,860 – $212,940+39.1%
3Electrical Engineers$163,720
Bachelor's degree
$104,230 – $202,680+35.7%
4Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$62,150
No formal educational credential
$38,500 – $65,090+33.9%
5Engineers, All Other$163,630
Bachelor's degree
$94,950 – $203,280+33.1%
6Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,440
Associate's degree
$52,300 – $122,690+32.1%
7Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$80,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,360 – $132,540+31.0%
8Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$102,250
Associate's degree
$58,930 – $124,110+30.8%
9Protective Service Workers, All Other$55,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,480 – $128,490+30.2%
10Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$57,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,800 – $80,300+29.3%
11Industrial Engineers$132,290
Bachelor's degree
$81,270 – $208,000+29.1%
12Data Entry Keyers$53,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,200 – $53,410+29.0%
13Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$70,600
Associate's degree
$45,740 – $125,840+28.2%
14Library Technicians$56,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,270 – $56,140+25.9%
15Social Workers, All Other$90,310
Bachelor's degree
$60,260 – $114,820+25.6%
16Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,180 – $58,240+25.6%
17Architectural and Engineering Managers$215,120
Bachelor's degree
$151,050 – $268,190+25.6%
18Interpreters and Translators$75,230
Bachelor's degree
$54,370 – $101,270+25.0%
19Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$73,990
Master's degree
$48,900 – $113,430+24.7%
20Physicians, All Other$327,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$135,550 – $419,550+23.2%
21Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$79,180
Master's degree
$48,570 – $107,000+23.1%
22Logisticians$101,270
Bachelor's degree
$63,810 – $147,980+23.0%
23Education Administrators, All Other$115,460
Bachelor's degree
$74,550 – $163,630+21.3%
24Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$78,670
Bachelor's degree
$60,570 – $95,630+20.8%
25Emergency Medicine Physicians$405,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$158,680 – $405,130+20.7%
26Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$50,820
Bachelor's degree
$36,680 – $65,100+18.4%
27Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$153,900
Bachelor's degree
$81,990 – $205,570+18.2%
28Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$75,520
Bachelor's degree
$60,470 – $83,850+18.1%
29Computer and Information Research Scientists$165,690
Master's degree
$108,510 – $285,530+18.1%
30Security Guards$44,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,880 – $64,340+17.8%
31Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,640
Bachelor's degree
$62,950 – $80,130+17.5%
32Medical Records Specialists$60,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,330 – $76,110+17.4%
33Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$44,050
Associate's degree
$31,710 – $73,530+15.5%
34Clergy$70,160
Bachelor's degree
$49,520 – $92,850+15.4%
35School Psychologists$109,930
Master's degree
$83,630 – $166,420+14.5%
36Helpers--Electricians$48,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,420 – $61,980+13.8%
37Special Education Teachers, Middle School$75,800
Bachelor's degree
$60,130 – $92,370+13.5%
38Community Health Workers$58,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,730 – $77,880+12.4%
39Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$55,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $78,810+12.1%
40Aircraft Service Attendants$45,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,330 – $62,590+11.7%
41Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$53,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $66,210+11.2%
42Information and Record Clerks, All Other$54,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,770 – $80,290+10.2%
43Computer Occupations, All Other$127,820
Bachelor's degree
$65,860 – $201,250+9.6%
44Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,710 – $68,330+9.5%
45Bartenders$37,400
No formal educational credential
$26,750 – $63,580+8.9%
46First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$60,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $98,300+8.5%
47Cooks, Short Order$38,860
No formal educational credential
$27,760 – $45,010+8.3%
48Waiters and Waitresses$38,050
No formal educational credential
$27,650 – $69,370+8.0%
49Teachers and Instructors, All Other$71,410
Bachelor's degree
$40,030 – $104,500+8.0%
50Veterinarians$140,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,990 – $222,390+7.8%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAlbuquerque, NM	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$178,290	$42,680 – $355,560	+66.1%
2	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$126,960	$58,860 – $212,940	+39.1%
3	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$163,720	$104,230 – $202,680	+35.7%
4	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$62,150	$38,500 – $65,090	+33.9%
5	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$163,630	$94,950 – $203,280	+33.1%
6	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,440	$52,300 – $122,690	+32.1%
7	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,630	$59,360 – $132,540	+31.0%
8	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,250	$58,930 – $124,110	+30.8%
9	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,370	$34,480 – $128,490	+30.2%
10	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,390	$38,800 – $80,300	+29.3%
11	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$132,290	$81,270 – $208,000	+29.1%
12	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,320	$39,200 – $53,410	+29.0%
13	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$70,600	$45,740 – $125,840	+28.2%
14	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,140	$32,270 – $56,140	+25.9%
15	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$90,310	$60,260 – $114,820	+25.6%
16	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$33,180 – $58,240	+25.6%
17	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$215,120	$151,050 – $268,190	+25.6%
18	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$75,230	$54,370 – $101,270	+25.0%
19	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$73,990	$48,900 – $113,430	+24.7%
20	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$327,670	$135,550 – $419,550	+23.2%
21	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$79,180	$48,570 – $107,000	+23.1%
22	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$101,270	$63,810 – $147,980	+23.0%
23	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$115,460	$74,550 – $163,630	+21.3%
24	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,670	$60,570 – $95,630	+20.8%
25	Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$405,130	$158,680 – $405,130	+20.7%
26	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$50,820	$36,680 – $65,100	+18.4%
27	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$153,900	$81,990 – $205,570	+18.2%
28	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$75,520	$60,470 – $83,850	+18.1%
29	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$165,690	$108,510 – $285,530	+18.1%
30	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,780	$30,880 – $64,340	+17.8%
31	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$75,640	$62,950 – $80,130	+17.5%
32	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,020	$38,330 – $76,110	+17.4%
33	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$44,050	$31,710 – $73,530	+15.5%
34	ClergyBachelor's degree	$70,160	$49,520 – $92,850	+15.4%
35	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$109,930	$83,630 – $166,420	+14.5%
36	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,570	$36,420 – $61,980	+13.8%
37	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,800	$60,130 – $92,370	+13.5%
38	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,290	$45,730 – $77,880	+12.4%
39	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,420	$37,010 – $78,810	+12.1%
40	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,200	$36,330 – $62,590	+11.7%
41	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,850	$38,650 – $66,210	+11.2%
42	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,550	$40,770 – $80,290	+10.2%
43	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$127,820	$65,860 – $201,250	+9.6%
44	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$43,710 – $68,330	+9.5%
45	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$37,400	$26,750 – $63,580	+8.9%
46	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,720	$39,600 – $98,300	+8.5%
47	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$38,860	$27,760 – $45,010	+8.3%
48	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$38,050	$27,650 – $69,370	+8.0%
49	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$71,410	$40,030 – $104,500	+8.0%
50	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$140,200	$90,990 – $222,390	+7.8%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Albuquerque, NM

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