Tool and Die Makers Salary
In New Mexico, tool and die makers earn $47,960 at the median, or about $23.06 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $51,537 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 34.2% 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 $48K get you in New Mexico?
About tool and die makers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for tool and die makers in New Mexico runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% 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 tool and die makers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
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Track tool and die makers 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 tool and die maker afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 34.2% 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 tool and die makers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tool and die makers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,416/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tool and die maker a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $48K here vs. $64K 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 tool and die makers?
New Mexico pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do tool and die makers make in New Mexico?
The median is $47,960 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,260, and experienced tool and die makers can clear $79,040. 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 $3,268/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 34.2% 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 tool and die makers 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 tool and die makers salary is worth about $51,537 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tool and die makers 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.