Administrative Assistant salary in Las Cruces, NM
No other area in New Mexico pays administrative assistants less than Las Cruces. The median is $41,030 a year1, 11.7% below the New Mexico statewide median of $46,450 and 13.7% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #380 of 520. About 2,360 administrative assistants work here, 9% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Las Cruces, NM. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Las Cruces against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | $31,200 | $41,030 | $56,190 | |
| New Mexico | $33,870 | $46,450 | $61,820 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Las Cruces earns $36,500–$48,460. The top tenth earns $56,190 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $11,960 wide, against $17,520 across New Mexico and $19,170 nationally: employers in Las Cruces 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 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| 25th percentile | $36,500 | $3,042 | $17.55 | $47,097 |
| Median | $41,030 | $3,419 | $19.73 | $52,942 |
| 75th percentile | $48,460 | $4,038 | $23.30 | $62,529 |
| 90th percentile | $56,190 | $4,682 | $27.01 | $72,503 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $7,430 over the median, the 25th only $4,530 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $9,587 a year in employer cost. 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 Las Cruces, and the New Mexico statewide median of $46,450 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Las Cruces
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 $11,912 to the $41,030 median and brings it to $52,942 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 Las Cruces
Of the 14 roles we track in Las Cruces, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($43,120) and medical administrative assistants ($38,690). Project Coordinator is the highest at $82,110.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +8.4% | 580 | |
| HR Assistant | +5.1% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 2,360 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.7% | 540 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.1% | 1,480 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in Las Cruces (-13.7%), between virtual receptionists (-12.4%) and office managers (-13.9%). The typical role here is at -15.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 29.3% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Las Cruces, 27.1% across New Mexico and 11.0% 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. All 4 areas in New Mexico with more administrative assistants than Las Cruces also pay more, among them Albuquerque, NM ($46,950) and the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area ($42,850).
| Area | Median | vs Las Cruces | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | +22.3% | 2,410 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +15.9% | 3,250 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +14.4% | 11,020 | |
| Farmington, NM | +11.8% | 1,250 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +4.4% | 4,470 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | this area | 2,360 |
Las Cruces against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Las Cruces is #126 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, Morristown and Lake Havasu City-Kingman pay just above Las Cruces and Jefferson City and Baton Rouge just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in Las Cruces. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Las Cruces | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | +11.9% | 2,330 | jobs | |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | +3.8% | 2,350 | jobs | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | +1.3% | 2,330 | jobs | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | +0.3% | 740 | pay | |
| Morristown, TN | +0.0% | 440 | pay | |
| Las Cruces, NM | this area | 2,360 | ||
| Jefferson City, MO | -0.1% | 1,880 | pay | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | -0.3% | 5,950 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Las Cruces, NM?
About $52,942 a year at the median, or $4,412 a month: $41,030 in pay plus about $11,912 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Las Cruces?
The median was $41,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200, the 90th $56,190, and the middle half earned $36,500 to $48,460.
Is Las Cruces the cheapest area in New Mexico for administrative assistants?
Yes. Its median of $41,030 is the lowest of 6 areas in New Mexico. The Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area is next at $42,850.
How many administrative assistants work in Las Cruces?
BLS counts about 2,360 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the New Mexico total of 25,430. 4 areas in New Mexico have more; the closest in size is Santa Fe, with about 2,410.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Las Cruces?
Yes: $2,340 a year more at the median. The medians are $41,030 and $38,690.
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.