Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in New Mexico make a median of $67,590 a year, or about $32.5 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $72,631 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 25.2% 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 $68K get you in New Mexico?
About cost estimators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for cost estimators in New Mexico runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 25% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, New Mexico can be a reasonable trade-off for cost estimatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $73K | +8% | 520 |
| Farmington | $63K | -7% | 60 |
| Santa Fe | $62K | -9% | 60 |
| Las Cruces | $56K | -17% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 25% 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 cost estimators in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,338/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cost estimator a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $68K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for cost estimators?
New Mexico pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in New Mexico?
The median is $67,590 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,960, and experienced cost estimators can clear $109,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,468/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 25% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cost estimators 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 cost estimators salary is worth about $72,631 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cost estimators 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.