Social and Human Service Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social and human service assistants in New Mexico is $46,340/year ($22.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $49,796 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in New Mexico?
About social and human service assistants
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Social and human service assistants pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 35.3% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level social and human service assistants (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Social and Human Service Assistants 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 | $49K | +5% | 160 |
| Albuquerque | $46K | +0% | 1,490 |
| Las Cruces | $45K | -2% | 420 |
| Farmington | $45K | -3% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track social and human service assistants 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 social and human service assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 35.3% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social and human service assistants in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social and human service assistants typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,969/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social and human service assistant a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for social and human service assistants?
New Mexico pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social and human service assistants make in New Mexico?
The median is $46,340 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,820, and experienced social and human service assistants can clear $63,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,166/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 35.3% 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 social and human service assistants 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 social and human service assistants salary is worth about $49,796 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social and human service assistants 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.