Chemists Salary
Chemists in New Mexico make a median of $126,960 a year, or about $61.04 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $213K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $136,428 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 14.5% 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 $127K get you in New Mexico?
About chemists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for chemists, local pay runs about 39% higher than the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 14.5% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Mexico offers a genuinely strong financial position for chemistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $213K or more, a $153K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $127K | +0% | 180 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 14.5% 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 chemists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,569/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemist a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay is 39% above the national median — $127K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for chemists?
New Mexico pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in New Mexico?
The median is $126,960 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,490, and experienced chemists can clear $212,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,692/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 14.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists 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 chemists salary is worth about $136,428 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists 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.