Administrative Assistant salary in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area
Hiring an administrative assistant costs less in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area than in New Mexico or the country as a whole. The median is $42,850 a year1: 7.8% below the New Mexico statewide median of $46,450 and 9.9% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #328 of 520 areas. About 4,470 administrative assistants work here, 18% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | $31,490 | $42,850 | $59,500 | |
| New Mexico | $33,870 | $46,450 | $61,820 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $59,500, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area earns $36,640–$50,650. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,010 wide, against $17,520 across New Mexico and $19,170 nationally: employers in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,490 | $2,624 | $15.14 | $40,632 |
| 25th percentile | $36,640 | $3,053 | $17.62 | $47,277 |
| Median | $42,850 | $3,571 | $20.60 | $55,290 |
| 75th percentile | $50,650 | $4,221 | $24.35 | $65,355 |
| 90th percentile | $59,500 | $4,958 | $28.61 | $76,774 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,800 a year in pay and about $10,065 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,210 in pay. 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 $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area, and the New Mexico statewide median of $46,450 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $12,440 to the $42,850 median and brings it to $55,290 a year. 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 administrative assistants 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 the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between HR assistants ($45,090) and medical administrative assistants ($38,540). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,810.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +7.4% | 1,540 | |
| HR Assistant | +5.2% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 4,470 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -10.1% | 740 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.2% | 1,770 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #8 of the 15 roles we track in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area (-9.9%), between bookkeepers (-9.2%) and HR assistants (-10.9%). The typical role here is at -9.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 29.8% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area, 26.8% across New Mexico and 10.9% nationally. The job is a bigger 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 $41,030 in Las Cruces to $50,170 in Santa Fe, a gap of $9,140 a year. The one area in New Mexico with more administrative assistants, Albuquerque, NM ($46,950), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | +17.1% | 2,410 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +11.0% | 3,250 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +9.6% | 11,020 | |
| Farmington, NM | +7.0% | 1,250 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | this area | 4,470 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -4.2% | 2,360 |
the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area is #68 of 520 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, Cleveland and Mansfield pay just above the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area and Clarksville and Mobile just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +20.0% | 4,630 | jobs | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +11.4% | 4,420 | jobs | |
| Huntsville, AL | +7.6% | 4,700 | jobs | |
| Mansfield, OH | +0.4% | 500 | pay | |
| Cleveland, TN | +0.1% | 390 | pay | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | this area | 4,470 | ||
| Clarksville, TN-KY | -0.0% | 1,020 | pay | |
| Mobile, AL | -0.0% | 3,780 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro)?
About $55,290 a year at the median, or $4,608 a month: $42,850 in pay plus about $12,440 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area?
The median was $42,850 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,490, the 90th $59,500, and the middle half earned $36,640 to $50,650.
Is the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $42,850 against $46,450 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is Farmington at $45,860, the next down Las Cruces at $41,030.
How many administrative assistants work in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 4,470 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the New Mexico total of 25,430. Only Albuquerque has more in New Mexico.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area?
Yes: $4,310 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,850 and $38,540.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: 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.