Tapers Salary
In New Mexico, tapers earn $48,320 at the median, or about $23.23 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $51,923 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 34% 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 $48K get you in New Mexico?
About tapers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for tapers in New Mexico runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 tapers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Tapers salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $48K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track tapers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a taper afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 34% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for tapers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tapers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,744/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taper a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $48K here vs. $68K 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 tapers?
New Mexico pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do tapers make in New Mexico?
The median is $48,320 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,730, and experienced tapers can clear $60,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,291/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 34% 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 tapers 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 tapers salary is worth about $51,923 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tapers 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.