Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in New Mexico is $132,850/year ($63.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $142,757 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 13.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in New Mexico?
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Aerospace engineers pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $133K locally vs. $135K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 14% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in New Mexico
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $137K | +3% | 70 |
| Albuquerque | $133K | +0% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track aerospace engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 14% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,841/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $133K locally vs. $135K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
New Mexico pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $143K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in New Mexico?
The median is $132,850 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,350, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $195,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,003/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 14% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aerospace engineers salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aerospace engineers salary is worth about $142,757 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aerospace engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.