SOC 25-2057 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Middle School — New Mexico
New Mexico · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in New Mexico comes to $74,440 a year, ahead of the national median of $66,810 by 11.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in New Mexico comes to $74,440 a year, ahead of the national median of $66,810 by 11.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,000 and $77,140. The lowest tenth earn under $60,070, while the highest tenth earn more than $89,760.
Employment stands at 1,090, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, New Mexico ranks 18th by median wage. Albuquerque leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $75,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 200th of 634 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,070 | −10.1% |
| 25th | $62,000 | −7.2% |
| Median (50th) | $74,440 | +11.4% |
| 75th | $77,140 | +15.5% |
| 90th | $89,760 | +34.4% |
| Mean | $72,820 | +9.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque | $75,800 | 690 | |
| 2 | Las Cruces | $72,810 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $74,440 goes as far as $80,738 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 20.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,738US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,440 a year, 11.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,070 to $89,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,090 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 18th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albuquerque, at $75,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Middle School in New Mexico?
The median annual wage is $74,440, 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 $66,810, so pay in New Mexico is 11.4% 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 $89,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,070 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 $75,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,090 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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