Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Las Cruces, NM

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

Cost of living: prices in Las Cruces, NM run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Las Cruces, NM salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Las Cruces, NM

OccupationMedian, Las Cruces, NM · vs. national

1Real Estate Sales Agents$100,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,270 – $149,540+89.8%
2Physicians, All Other$387,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$114,790 – $475,510+45.7%
3Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$81,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,620 – $118,720+32.9%
4Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$77,990
Master's degree
$34,520 – $124,990+29.4%
5Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$76,350
Master's degree
$52,730 – $94,000+28.6%
6Operations Research Analysts$114,150
Bachelor's degree
$61,110 – $164,470+28.3%
7Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,980 – $83,180+23.1%
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$96,100
Associate's degree
$66,390 – $122,120+22.7%
9Dentists, General$207,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,870 – $315,440+21.1%
10Crane and Tower Operators$81,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,800 – $99,020+20.2%
11Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$74,400
Bachelor's degree
$51,830 – $81,070+18.7%
12Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,930 – $77,270+17.8%
13Physical Therapists$120,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,480 – $163,550+17.1%
14Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$44,430
Associate's degree
$29,470 – $72,570+16.5%
15Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$74,100
Bachelor's degree
$58,120 – $75,460+15.8%
16School Psychologists$110,360
Master's degree
$97,900 – $126,050+15.0%
17Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$74,470
Bachelor's degree
$57,040 – $82,120+14.4%
18Detectives and Criminal Investigators$106,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,130 – $112,260+13.4%
19Protective Service Workers, All Other$47,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,960 – $93,780+12.3%
20Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,170
Bachelor's degree
$59,000 – $74,350+12.1%
21Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$40,930
Some college, no degree
$26,950 – $46,390+11.3%
22Waiters and Waitresses$38,670
No formal educational credential
$26,490 – $64,750+9.8%
23Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,780
Associate's degree
$50,580 – $112,110+9.7%
24Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$65,020
Bachelor's degree
$48,190 – $114,400+9.6%
25Special Education Teachers, Middle School$72,810
Bachelor's degree
$56,370 – $74,810+9.0%
26Occupational Therapists$108,630
Master's degree
$75,020 – $154,120+8.3%
27Surveying and Mapping Technicians$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,180 – $77,580+8.2%
28Recreation Workers$39,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,170 – $78,850+7.1%
29First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,540 – $72,130+5.5%
30Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$86,630
Bachelor's degree
$71,410 – $108,560+5.4%
31Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,040 – $97,610+5.4%
32Speech-Language Pathologists$102,850
Master's degree
$71,260 – $169,150+5.1%
33Agricultural Inspectors$52,450
Bachelor's degree
$52,450 – $59,180+5.0%
34Occupational Therapy Assistants$75,750
Associate's degree
$59,130 – $84,430+4.8%
35First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$50,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,960 – $68,550+4.7%
36Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,250
Bachelor's degree
$57,680 – $75,980+4.5%
37Instructional Coordinators$80,870
Master's degree
$53,190 – $119,360+4.4%
38Skincare Specialists$47,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,520 – $85,860+4.2%
39Physician Assistants$141,350
Master's degree
$64,710 – $156,670+4.0%
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$64,370
Associate's degree
$49,330 – $71,260+2.4%
41Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$50,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,400 – $68,560+2.2%
42Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$75,570
Bachelor's degree
$57,980 – $77,360+1.8%
43Aerospace Engineers$136,860
Bachelor's degree
$97,350 – $166,000+1.4%
44Postal Service Clerks$62,370
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+0.4%
45Bartenders$34,470
No formal educational credential
$24,960 – $63,680+0.4%
46Architectural and Engineering Managers$170,990
Bachelor's degree
$118,570 – $221,170-0.2%
47Nurse Practitioners$131,990
Master's degree
$100,550 – $161,000-0.2%
48Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$105,580
Master's degree
$86,050 – $132,130-0.3%
49Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$66,000
Bachelor's degree
$55,650 – $86,240-0.4%
50Social and Human Service Assistants$45,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,880 – $66,550-1.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianLas Cruces, NM	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,280	$36,270 – $149,540	+89.8%
2	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$387,450	$114,790 – $475,510	+45.7%
3	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,800	$45,620 – $118,720	+32.9%
4	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$77,990	$34,520 – $124,990	+29.4%
5	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$76,350	$52,730 – $94,000	+28.6%
6	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$114,150	$61,110 – $164,470	+28.3%
7	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,620	$39,980 – $83,180	+23.1%
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$96,100	$66,390 – $122,120	+22.7%
9	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$207,000	$107,870 – $315,440	+21.1%
10	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,830	$44,800 – $99,020	+20.2%
11	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$74,400	$51,830 – $81,070	+18.7%
12	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$32,930 – $77,270	+17.8%
13	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$120,350	$77,480 – $163,550	+17.1%
14	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$44,430	$29,470 – $72,570	+16.5%
15	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$74,100	$58,120 – $75,460	+15.8%
16	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$110,360	$97,900 – $126,050	+15.0%
17	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$74,470	$57,040 – $82,120	+14.4%
18	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,330	$63,130 – $112,260	+13.4%
19	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,790	$37,960 – $93,780	+12.3%
20	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$72,170	$59,000 – $74,350	+12.1%
21	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$40,930	$26,950 – $46,390	+11.3%
22	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$38,670	$26,490 – $64,750	+9.8%
23	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,780	$50,580 – $112,110	+9.7%
24	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$65,020	$48,190 – $114,400	+9.6%
25	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$72,810	$56,370 – $74,810	+9.0%
26	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$108,630	$75,020 – $154,120	+8.3%
27	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$40,180 – $77,580	+8.2%
28	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,140	$30,170 – $78,850	+7.1%
29	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$31,540 – $72,130	+5.5%
30	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$86,630	$71,410 – $108,560	+5.4%
31	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,250	$51,040 – $97,610	+5.4%
32	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$102,850	$71,260 – $169,150	+5.1%
33	Agricultural InspectorsBachelor's degree	$52,450	$52,450 – $59,180	+5.0%
34	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,750	$59,130 – $84,430	+4.8%
35	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,870	$33,960 – $68,550	+4.7%
36	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$75,250	$57,680 – $75,980	+4.5%
37	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$80,870	$53,190 – $119,360	+4.4%
38	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,230	$28,520 – $85,860	+4.2%
39	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$141,350	$64,710 – $156,670	+4.0%
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,370	$49,330 – $71,260	+2.4%
41	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,320	$33,400 – $68,560	+2.2%
42	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,570	$57,980 – $77,360	+1.8%
43	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$136,860	$97,350 – $166,000	+1.4%
44	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,370	$42,600 – $76,360	+0.4%
45	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$34,470	$24,960 – $63,680	+0.4%
46	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$170,990	$118,570 – $221,170	-0.2%
47	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$131,990	$100,550 – $161,000	-0.2%
48	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$105,580	$86,050 – $132,130	-0.3%
49	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$66,000	$55,650 – $86,240	-0.4%
50	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,460	$31,880 – $66,550	-1.0%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Las Cruces, NM

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