Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in New Mexico is $75,900/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $81,560 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $76K actually covers in New Mexico, month by month
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 22.7% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $77K | +2% | 630 |
| Albuquerque | $77K | +1% | 3,360 |
| Farmington | $77K | +1% | 530 |
| Las Cruces | $75K | -1% | 760 |
Compare to other states
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 22.7% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,983/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
New Mexico pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in New Mexico?
The median is $75,900 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,330, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $84,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,921/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 22.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $81,560 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations 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.
