Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a physics teachers, postsecondary in New Mexico is $108,850/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $116,968 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 16.3% 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 $109K get you in New Mexico?
About physics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Physics teachers, postsecondary pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $109K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 16.7% 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track physics 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 physics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 16.7% 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,848/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $109K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for physics teachers, postsecondaries?
New Mexico pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physics teachers, postsecondaries make in New Mexico?
The median is $108,850 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,800, and experienced physics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $142,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,719/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 16.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physics 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 physics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $116,968 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physics 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.