Careers in New Mexico
New Mexico’s regional price level is below the national average (index 92.212, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 5.6% · Labor force participation: 56.9% · 917,735 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Emergency Medicine Physicians$405,130
- 2Anesthesiologists$393,970
- 3Surgeons, All Other$363,940
- 4Physicians, All Other$327,670
- 5Obstetricians and Gynecologists$259,990
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides38,910 employed
- 2Fast Food and Counter Workers28,250 employed
- 3Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive25,430 employed
- 4Retail Salespersons23,800 employed
- 5Cashiers19,020 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas14.84× national avg
- 2Computer Hardware Engineers12.25× national avg
- 3Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas10.75× national avg
- 4Wellhead Pumpers10.49× national avg
- 5Roustabouts, Oil and Gas8.82× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Emergency Medicine Physicians$439,346
- 2Anesthesiologists$427,244
- 3Surgeons, All Other$394,677
- 4Physicians, All Other$355,344
- 5Obstetricians and Gynecologists$281,948
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.