Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Santa Fe, NM

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

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 · vs. national

1Tutors$62,400
Some college, no degree
$37,930 – $102,030+43.9%
2Family Medicine Physicians$345,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$112,020 – $458,800+41.3%
3Waiters and Waitresses$46,640
No formal educational credential
$28,900 – $78,210+32.4%
4Personal Financial Advisors$138,790
Bachelor's degree
$78,510 – $341,370+32.1%
5Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$83,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,440 – $93,570+30.9%
6Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$131,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,010 – $131,470+30.7%
7Bartenders$44,250
No formal educational credential
$27,590 – $65,640+28.9%
8Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$76,860
Master's degree
$51,350 – $141,270+27.5%
9Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$82,590
Bachelor's degree
$63,080 – $105,830+26.8%
10Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$74,100
Master's degree
$48,580 – $119,490+24.9%
11Paramedics$75,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,520 – $78,030+24.9%
12Cooks, Fast Food$38,000
No formal educational credential
$30,370 – $45,180+23.0%
13Surveying and Mapping Technicians$66,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $96,800+22.3%
14Medical Records Specialists$62,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,240 – $100,550+21.8%
15Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$46,400
Associate's degree
$37,690 – $66,960+21.7%
16Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$67,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,840 – $83,540+21.6%
17Physical Therapists$124,870
Doctoral or professional degree
$97,570 – $152,340+21.5%
18Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$75,400
Master's degree
$49,350 – $103,110+17.2%
19Butchers and Meat Cutters$46,880
No formal educational credential
$35,960 – $55,100+16.8%
20Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$74,430
Bachelor's degree
$46,840 – $130,150+16.6%
21Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$69,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $97,200+16.4%
22Chefs and Head Cooks$72,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $106,130+15.3%
23Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$73,750
Bachelor's degree
$56,930 – $90,360+15.3%
24Architectural and Engineering Managers$195,350
Bachelor's degree
$95,000 – $259,110+14.1%
25Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$89,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,760 – $110,470+14.1%
26Photographers$50,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,660 – $88,250+13.5%
27First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$120,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,890 – $159,140+13.2%
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$72,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,930 – $85,900+13.0%
29Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$44,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $47,970+12.4%
30First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$54,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,480 – $81,760+12.3%
31Production Workers, All Other$44,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,060 – $50,330+11.9%
32Occupational Therapists$112,240
Master's degree
$91,580 – $132,060+11.9%
33Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,450
Associate's degree
$56,260 – $93,140+11.5%
34Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$43,220
No formal educational credential
$33,440 – $55,490+10.4%
35Museum Technicians and Conservators$56,670
Bachelor's degree
$47,900 – $72,620+10.2%
36Nursing Assistants$46,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,920 – $57,210+10.1%
37Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$55,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,500 – $92,130+9.9%
38Education Administrators, Postsecondary$114,690
Master's degree
$76,820 – $160,540+9.7%
39Computer Network Support Specialists$83,650
Associate's degree
$47,390 – $119,540+9.7%
40Civil Engineers$110,470
Bachelor's degree
$72,450 – $159,980+9.5%
41Nurse Practitioners$144,250
Master's degree
$120,230 – $183,000+9.0%
42Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $83,410+8.8%
43Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$115,190
Master's degree
$84,080 – $151,120+8.8%
44Lodging Managers$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,370 – $95,180+8.7%
45Healthcare Social Workers$73,610
Master's degree
$37,190 – $101,970+8.4%
46Interior Designers$72,800
Bachelor's degree
$53,960 – $179,990+8.3%
47Tellers$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,710 – $49,290+8.2%
48Security Guards$40,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $60,600+7.8%
49Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$86,000
Associate's degree
$61,040 – $125,500+7.4%
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$47,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $67,920+7.3%

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	vs. national
1	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,400	$37,930 – $102,030	+43.9%
2	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$345,070	$112,020 – $458,800	+41.3%
3	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$46,640	$28,900 – $78,210	+32.4%
4	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$138,790	$78,510 – $341,370	+32.1%
5	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,620	$40,440 – $93,570	+30.9%
6	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$131,470	$55,010 – $131,470	+30.7%
7	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$44,250	$27,590 – $65,640	+28.9%
8	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$76,860	$51,350 – $141,270	+27.5%
9	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$82,590	$63,080 – $105,830	+26.8%
10	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$74,100	$48,580 – $119,490	+24.9%
11	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,660	$52,520 – $78,030	+24.9%
12	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$38,000	$30,370 – $45,180	+23.0%
13	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,310	$44,010 – $96,800	+22.3%
14	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,280	$38,240 – $100,550	+21.8%
15	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$46,400	$37,690 – $66,960	+21.7%
16	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,600	$42,840 – $83,540	+21.6%
17	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$124,870	$97,570 – $152,340	+21.5%
18	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$75,400	$49,350 – $103,110	+17.2%
19	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$46,880	$35,960 – $55,100	+16.8%
20	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$74,430	$46,840 – $130,150	+16.6%
21	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,870	$41,010 – $97,200	+16.4%
22	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,020	$46,700 – $106,130	+15.3%
23	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$73,750	$56,930 – $90,360	+15.3%
24	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$195,350	$95,000 – $259,110	+14.1%
25	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,010	$61,760 – $110,470	+14.1%
26	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,670	$36,660 – $88,250	+13.5%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,030	$82,890 – $159,140	+13.2%
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,750	$52,930 – $85,900	+13.0%
29	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,270	$38,230 – $47,970	+12.4%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,570	$37,480 – $81,760	+12.3%
31	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,880	$35,060 – $50,330	+11.9%
32	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$112,240	$91,580 – $132,060	+11.9%
33	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,450	$56,260 – $93,140	+11.5%
34	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$43,220	$33,440 – $55,490	+10.4%
35	Museum Technicians and ConservatorsBachelor's degree	$56,670	$47,900 – $72,620	+10.2%
36	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,530	$35,920 – $57,210	+10.1%
37	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,640	$35,500 – $92,130	+9.9%
38	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$114,690	$76,820 – $160,540	+9.7%
39	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$83,650	$47,390 – $119,540	+9.7%
40	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,470	$72,450 – $159,980	+9.5%
41	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$144,250	$120,230 – $183,000	+9.0%
42	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,790	$45,440 – $83,410	+8.8%
43	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$115,190	$84,080 – $151,120	+8.8%
44	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$52,370 – $95,180	+8.7%
45	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,610	$37,190 – $101,970	+8.4%
46	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$72,800	$53,960 – $179,990	+8.3%
47	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$36,710 – $49,290	+8.2%
48	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,980	$32,000 – $60,600	+7.8%
49	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,000	$61,040 – $125,500	+7.4%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,290	$35,360 – $67,920	+7.3%

More for Santa Fe, NM

Other metro areas in NM

By field in Santa Fe, NM

Without a degree

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.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Santa Fe, NM

More for Santa Fe, NM

Other metro areas in NM

By field in Santa Fe, NM

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state