SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — New Mexico
New Mexico · 1 metro areas compared
In New Mexico the median wage is $41,600.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +6.0%
- Openings per year
- 3,900
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
10.8% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for New Mexico.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In New Mexico the median wage is $41,600. That is 18.8% lower than the national median of $51,220. Pay ranges from under $35,660 at the tenth percentile to more than $66,350 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,900 to $64,280.
New Mexico ranks number 46th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Albuquerque records the highest median at $41,680. Of the 634 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 484th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,660 | −30.4% |
| 25th | $36,900 | −28.0% |
| Median (50th) | $41,600 | −18.8% |
| 75th | $64,280 | +25.5% |
| 90th | $66,350 | +29.5% |
| Mean | $49,550 | −3.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque | $41,680 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $41,600 goes as far as $45,119 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,119US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,600 a year, 18.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,660 to $66,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 46th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albuquerque, at $41,680.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in New Mexico?
The median annual wage is $41,600, or $20.00 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 $51,220, so pay in New Mexico is 18.8% 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 New Mexico earns more than $66,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,660 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 Albuquerque, at $41,680 per year.
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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