Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Farmington, NM

Each occupation's median wage in Farmington, 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 Farmington, NM pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Farmington, NM run 12.3% below the national average (2024), so a Farmington, NM salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Farmington, NM

OccupationMedian, Farmington, NM · vs. national

1Real Estate Sales Agents$91,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,600 – $152,710+72.6%
2Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$85,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $86,000+49.5%
3Education Administrators, All Other$118,080
Bachelor's degree
$106,930 – $134,510+24.0%
4Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$73,070
Master's degree
$49,720 – $94,430+23.1%
5Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$78,440
Master's degree
$47,480 – $97,610+21.9%
6Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,530 – $97,700+21.7%
7Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$59,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,580 – $83,680+21.6%
8Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,840
Bachelor's degree
$58,040 – $81,730+20.1%
9Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$76,820
Bachelor's degree
$56,720 – $82,370+19.3%
10Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$75,830
Bachelor's degree
$59,200 – $80,380+16.4%
11Dentists, General$195,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$102,490 – $304,740+14.5%
12Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$64,500
No formal educational credential
$41,990 – $96,620+10.9%
13School Psychologists$104,740
Master's degree
$85,950 – $123,270+9.1%
14Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$39,960
Some college, no degree
$27,090 – $47,580+8.6%
15Helpers--Electricians$46,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $62,530+8.3%
16Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$66,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,590 – $124,430+7.8%
17Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$58,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $71,930+7.5%
18Medical Records Specialists$54,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,400 – $78,070+7.0%
19Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $92,880+6.9%
20Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$52,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $52,780+6.7%
21Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$79,190
Bachelor's degree
$59,930 – $91,480+6.6%
22Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$76,770
Bachelor's degree
$58,260 – $81,070+6.6%
23Instructional Coordinators$82,550
Master's degree
$74,570 – $126,240+6.6%
24Postal Service Clerks$65,710
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+5.8%
25Waiters and Waitresses$37,210
No formal educational credential
$26,340 – $66,300+5.6%
26Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$94,920
Bachelor's degree
$54,080 – $122,930+5.3%
27Physician Assistants$142,890
Master's degree
$95,170 – $162,390+5.2%
28Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$41,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,270 – $58,680+4.6%
29Pharmacists$147,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$121,410 – $168,460+4.6%
30Medical and Health Services Managers$129,400
Bachelor's degree
$90,450 – $190,780+4.5%
31Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$48,970
No formal educational credential
$36,530 – $56,820+4.3%
32Pharmacy Technicians$47,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,600 – $73,740+2.9%
33Child, Family, and School Social Workers$60,890
Bachelor's degree
$35,780 – $109,500+2.3%
34Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$108,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,280 – $155,360+1.4%
35Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,050 – $80,070+0.4%
36Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$48,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,740 – $58,430-0.1%
37Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,750
No formal educational credential
$28,590 – $46,130-0.2%
38Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,310
No formal educational credential
$29,100 – $44,230-0.4%
39Childcare Workers$34,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,340 – $39,580-0.5%
40Machinists$58,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,850 – $112,100-0.5%
41Carpenters$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,430 – $71,870-1.4%
42Social and Human Service Assistants$45,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,950 – $65,170-1.7%
43Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$57,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $72,850-1.8%
44First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,950 – $116,410-2.0%
45Recreation Workers$35,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,270 – $64,940-2.1%
46Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$103,520
Master's degree
$95,940 – $130,580-2.2%
47Industrial Production Managers$123,140
Bachelor's degree
$81,470 – $185,210-2.3%
48Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$37,230
Associate's degree
$31,260 – $75,880-2.4%
49Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,250 – $92,440-2.7%
50Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$47,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $56,960-2.8%

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

#	Occupation	MedianFarmington, NM	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,170	$60,600 – $152,710	+72.6%
2	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,880	$45,610 – $86,000	+49.5%
3	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$118,080	$106,930 – $134,510	+24.0%
4	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$73,070	$49,720 – $94,430	+23.1%
5	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$78,440	$47,480 – $97,610	+21.9%
6	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,730	$49,530 – $97,700	+21.7%
7	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,060	$41,580 – $83,680	+21.6%
8	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,840	$58,040 – $81,730	+20.1%
9	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$76,820	$56,720 – $82,370	+19.3%
10	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,830	$59,200 – $80,380	+16.4%
11	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$195,760	$102,490 – $304,740	+14.5%
12	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$64,500	$41,990 – $96,620	+10.9%
13	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$104,740	$85,950 – $123,270	+9.1%
14	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$39,960	$27,090 – $47,580	+8.6%
15	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,220	$31,200 – $62,530	+8.3%
16	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,370	$46,590 – $124,430	+7.8%
17	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,280	$44,570 – $71,930	+7.5%
18	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,700	$35,400 – $78,070	+7.0%
19	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,440	$36,200 – $92,880	+6.9%
20	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,760	$42,320 – $52,780	+6.7%
21	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,190	$59,930 – $91,480	+6.6%
22	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$76,770	$58,260 – $81,070	+6.6%
23	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$82,550	$74,570 – $126,240	+6.6%
24	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,710	$42,600 – $75,030	+5.8%
25	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$37,210	$26,340 – $66,300	+5.6%
26	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,920	$54,080 – $122,930	+5.3%
27	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$142,890	$95,170 – $162,390	+5.2%
28	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,470	$30,270 – $58,680	+4.6%
29	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$147,390	$121,410 – $168,460	+4.6%
30	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$129,400	$90,450 – $190,780	+4.5%
31	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$48,970	$36,530 – $56,820	+4.3%
32	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,070	$37,600 – $73,740	+2.9%
33	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$60,890	$35,780 – $109,500	+2.3%
34	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,750	$73,280 – $155,360	+1.4%
35	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,990	$34,050 – $80,070	+0.4%
36	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,380	$37,740 – $58,430	-0.1%
37	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$36,750	$28,590 – $46,130	-0.2%
38	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$37,310	$29,100 – $44,230	-0.4%
39	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,820	$30,340 – $39,580	-0.5%
40	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,460	$42,850 – $112,100	-0.5%
41	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$42,430 – $71,870	-1.4%
42	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,140	$30,950 – $65,170	-1.7%
43	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,200	$37,340 – $72,850	-1.8%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,300	$43,950 – $116,410	-2.0%
45	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,780	$30,270 – $64,940	-2.1%
46	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$103,520	$95,940 – $130,580	-2.2%
47	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$123,140	$81,470 – $185,210	-2.3%
48	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$37,230	$31,260 – $75,880	-2.4%
49	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,690	$36,250 – $92,440	-2.7%
50	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,360	$37,650 – $56,960	-2.8%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Farmington, NM

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