SOC 19-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists — New Mexico
New Mexico · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in New Mexico is $68,220 a year, trailing the national median of $76,780 by 11.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in New Mexico is $68,220 a year, trailing the national median of $76,780 by 11.1%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $63,480 and $80,290. The lowest tenth earn under $51,080, while the highest tenth earn more than $96,100.
The area has 170 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.63 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. New Mexico ranks number 35th out of 47 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Albuquerque records the highest median at $67,930. Of the 634 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 223rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,080 | −33.5% |
| 25th | $63,480 | −17.3% |
| Median (50th) | $68,220 | −11.1% |
| 75th | $80,290 | +4.6% |
| 90th | $96,100 | +25.2% |
| Mean | $73,400 | −4.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque | $67,930 | 50 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | $67,870 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $68,220 goes as far as $73,991 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$68,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,991US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $68,220 a year, 11.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $51,080 to $96,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 170 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albuquerque, at $67,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New Mexico?
The median annual wage is $68,220, or $32.80 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 $76,780, so pay in New Mexico is 11.1% 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 $96,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $51,080 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 Albuquerque, at $67,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 170 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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