SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Northern New Mexico
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Northern New Mexico, NM is $59,150 per year, close to the national median of $62,890 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Northern New Mexico, NM is $59,150 per year, close to the national median of $62,890 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,080 at the tenth percentile to more than $82,950 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,490 to $71,340.
The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Las Cruces leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 125th of 273 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,080 | −39.4% |
| 25th | $48,490 | −22.9% |
| Median (50th) | $59,150 | −5.9% |
| 75th | $71,340 | +13.4% |
| 90th | $82,950 | +31.9% |
| Mean | $60,650 | −3.6% |
Other metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Cruces | $64,370 | 130 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | $60,320 | 280 | |
| 3 | Farmington | $59,380 | 30 | |
| 4 | Albuquerque | $59,370 | 1,070 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northern New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $59,150 goes as far as $64,154 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,154US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,150 a year, 5.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,080 to $82,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Las Cruces, at $64,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Northern New Mexico, NM?
The median annual wage is $59,150, or $28.44 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 $62,890, so pay in Northern New Mexico, NM is 5.9% 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 Northern New Mexico, NM earns more than $82,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,080 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 $64,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Northern New Mexico, 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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