Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in New Mexico make a median of $76,800 a year, or about $36.92 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $82,527 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 22.2% 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 $77K get you in New Mexico?
About conservation scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Conservation scientists pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 22.5% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in New Mexico
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $79K | +3% | 90 |
| Santa Fe | $72K | -6% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 22.5% 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 conservation scientists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,791/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is conservation scientist a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
New Mexico pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in New Mexico?
The median is $76,800 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,520, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $111,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,971/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conservation scientists 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 conservation scientists salary is worth about $82,527 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do conservation scientists 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.