SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — New Mexico
New Mexico · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New Mexico is $65,640 per year, 8.9% above the national median of $60,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New Mexico is $65,640 per year, 8.9% above the national median of $60,280. Pay ranges from under $36,700 at the tenth percentile to more than $114,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,860 to $86,150.
The area has 800 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, New Mexico ranks 11th by median wage. Las Cruces leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $77,990. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 245th of 634 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,700 | −39.1% |
| 25th | $44,860 | −25.6% |
| Median (50th) | $65,640 | +8.9% |
| 75th | $86,150 | +42.9% |
| 90th | $114,170 | +89.4% |
| Mean | $69,720 | +15.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Cruces | $77,990 | 100 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | $76,860 | 40 | |
| 3 | Albuquerque | $61,280 | 410 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $65,640 goes as far as $71,193 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$65,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,193US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $65,640 a year, 8.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,700 to $114,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 800 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 11th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Las Cruces, at $77,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New Mexico?
The median annual wage is $65,640, or $31.56 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 $60,280, so pay in New Mexico is 8.9% 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 $114,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,700 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 Las Cruces, at $77,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 800 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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