SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM · 3 metro areas compared
At $76,590, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Albuquerque, NM tracks the national median of $74,260 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $76,590, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Albuquerque, NM tracks the national median of $74,260 closely. Pay ranges from under $61,120 at the tenth percentile to more than $87,750 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,100 to $81,450.
The area has 1,030 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.41 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Farmington records the highest median at $79,190. Of the 498 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 137th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,120 | −17.7% |
| 25th | $64,100 | −13.7% |
| Median (50th) | $76,590 | +3.1% |
| 75th | $81,450 | +9.7% |
| 90th | $87,750 | +18.2% |
| Mean | $73,810 | −0.6% |
Other metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmington | $79,190 | 130 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | $78,880 | 170 | |
| 3 | Las Cruces | $75,570 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Albuquerque run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $76,590 goes as far as $83,069 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$76,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,069US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,590 a year, 3.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,120 to $87,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,030 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Farmington, at $79,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Albuquerque, NM?
The median annual wage is $76,590, 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 $74,260, so pay in Albuquerque, NM is 3.1% 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 Albuquerque, NM earns more than $87,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,120 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 Farmington, at $79,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,030 jobs in this occupation in Albuquerque, 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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