SOC 43-6012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants — New Mexico
New Mexico · 4 metro areas compared
At $57,800, median pay for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in New Mexico tracks the national median of $55,570 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $57,800, median pay for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in New Mexico tracks the national median of $55,570 closely. Pay ranges from under $41,060 at the tenth percentile to more than $71,800 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,210 to $65,760.
The area has 1,400 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.59 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. New Mexico ranks number 15th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Santa Fe records the highest median at $67,600. Of the 634 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 319th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,060 | −26.1% |
| 25th | $48,210 | −13.2% |
| Median (50th) | $57,800 | +4.0% |
| 75th | $65,760 | +18.3% |
| 90th | $71,800 | +29.2% |
| Mean | $57,370 | +3.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $67,600 | 190 | |
| 2 | Albuquerque | $60,860 | 780 | |
| 3 | Las Cruces | $51,420 | 80 | |
| 4 | Farmington | $49,340 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $57,800 goes as far as $62,690 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,690US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,800 a year, 4.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,060 to $71,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,400 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 15th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Fe, at $67,600.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in New Mexico?
The median annual wage is $57,800, or $27.79 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 $55,570, so pay in New Mexico is 4.0% higher. 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 New Mexico earns more than $71,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,060 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Santa Fe, at $67,600 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,400 jobs in this occupation in New Mexico. 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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