Accountant salary in Albuquerque, NM
For this job Albuquerque sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $79,880 a year1. That is 1.7% above the New Mexico statewide median of $78,580, and 4.5% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #133 of 521 areas. With about 3,260 accountants, 52% of the New Mexico total, no area in New Mexico employs more.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Albuquerque, NM. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Albuquerque against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $55,990 | $79,880 | $126,260 | |
| New Mexico | $52,390 | $78,580 | $125,420 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Albuquerque earns $64,270–$99,580. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $126,260, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,310 wide, against $35,800 across New Mexico and $42,790 nationally: employers in Albuquerque pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,990 | $4,666 | $26.92 | $72,245 |
| 25th percentile | $64,270 | $5,356 | $30.90 | $82,929 |
| Median | $79,880 | $6,657 | $38.40 | $103,071 |
| 75th percentile | $99,580 | $8,298 | $47.88 | $128,490 |
| 90th percentile | $126,260 | $10,522 | $60.70 | $162,916 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,610 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $19,700, or about $25,419 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Albuquerque, and the New Mexico statewide median of $78,580 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Albuquerque
At the $79,880 median, a local hire costs about $103,071 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $23,191 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Albuquerque
Of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($106,730); recruiters come next at $73,290.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +33.6% | 2,300 | |
| Accountant | this role | 3,260 | |
| Recruiter | -8.2% | 2,250 | |
| Executive Assistant | -8.4% | 1,160 | |
| Office Manager | -18.8% | 4,080 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque (-4.5%), between executive assistants (-4.5%) and paralegals (-5.6%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 6.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Albuquerque, 6.6% across New Mexico and 9.1% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 6 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $67,470 in Las Cruces to $88,880 in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, a gap of $21,410 a year. No other area in New Mexico has as many accountants, and 4 of the other 5 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +11.3% | 550 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 3,260 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 900 | |
| Farmington, NM | -4.7% | 240 | |
| Santa Fe, NM | -8.9% | 620 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -15.5% | 480 |
Albuquerque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albuquerque is #62 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside New Mexico, Eugene-Springfield and Jacksonville pay just above Albuquerque and Utica-Rome and Portland-South Portland just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Albuquerque. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | +0.4% | 3,300 | jobs | |
| Jacksonville, FL | +0.1% | 6,890 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | +0.1% | 1,120 | pay | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 3,260 | ||
| Utica-Rome, NY | -0.1% | 1,040 | pay | |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | -0.1% | 1,780 | pay | |
| Knoxville, TN | -5.6% | 3,240 | jobs | |
| Columbia, SC | -13.4% | 3,260 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Albuquerque, NM?
About $103,071 a year at the median, or $8,589 a month: $79,880 in pay plus about $23,191 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Albuquerque?
The median was $79,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $55,990, the 90th $126,260, and the middle half earned $64,270 to $99,580.
Is Albuquerque cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $79,880 against $78,580 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area at $88,880, the next down the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area at $78,560.
How many accountants work in Albuquerque?
BLS counts about 3,260 in the May 2025 survey. That is 52% of the New Mexico total of 6,300. No other area in New Mexico has as many.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Albuquerque?
Yes: $6,590 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,880 and $73,290.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.