Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaries in New Mexico make a median of $71,720 a year. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $77,069 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in New Mexico?
About foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 23.8% 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 23.8% 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,081/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
New Mexico pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in New Mexico?
The median is $71,720 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,350, and experienced foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $133,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,694/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 23.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $77,069 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries 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.