Riggers Salary
Riggers in New Mexico make a median of $37,440 a year, or about $18 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $40,232 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $37K get you in New Mexico?
About riggers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for riggers in New Mexico runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 42.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for riggerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level riggers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track riggers 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 rigger afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 42.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for riggers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new riggers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,221/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rigger a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $37K here vs. $63K 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 riggers?
New Mexico pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do riggers make in New Mexico?
The median is $37,440 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,010, and experienced riggers can clear $69,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,607/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 42.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a riggers 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 riggers salary is worth about $40,232 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do riggers 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.