SOC 51-3091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders — Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
In Las Cruces, NM the median wage is $34,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Las Cruces, NM the median wage is $34,140. That is 23.8% lower than the national median of $44,810. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $33,730 and $44,740. The lowest tenth earn under $31,680, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,740.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.24 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 240th of 274 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,680 | −29.3% |
| 25th | $33,730 | −24.7% |
| Median (50th) | $34,140 | −23.8% |
| 75th | $44,740 | −0.2% |
| 90th | $44,740 | −0.2% |
| Mean | $37,480 | −16.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Las Cruces run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $34,140 goes as far as $37,028 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,028US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,140 a year, 23.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,680 to $44,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Las Cruces, NM?
The median annual wage is $34,140, or $16.42 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $44,810, so pay in Las Cruces, NM is 23.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Las Cruces, NM earns more than $44,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,680 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Las Cruces, NM. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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