Administrative Assistant salary in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area
For this job the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area sits right at the US figure, with a median of $47,550 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $47,540, and 2.4% above the New Mexico statewide median of $46,450. Among US areas it comes in at #140 of 520. BLS counts about 3,250 people in this job here, 13% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | $34,230 | $47,550 | $60,920 | |
| New Mexico | $33,870 | $46,450 | $61,820 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area earns $38,380–$59,860. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $60,920, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $21,480 wide, wider than in New Mexico as a whole ($17,520) and the US ($19,170), so what a administrative assistant earns in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area depends more on the employer.
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 | $34,230 | $2,852 | $16.46 | $44,168 |
| 25th percentile | $38,380 | $3,198 | $18.45 | $49,523 |
| Median | $47,550 | $3,962 | $22.86 | $61,355 |
| 75th percentile | $59,860 | $4,988 | $28.78 | $77,239 |
| 90th percentile | $60,920 | $5,077 | $29.29 | $78,606 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,170 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $12,310, or about $15,884 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 $47,540 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, and the New Mexico statewide median of $46,450 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northern 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 $13,805 to the $47,550 median and brings it to $61,355 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 Northern New Mexico nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($54,590) and bookkeepers ($47,050). Project Coordinator is the highest at $157,300.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +24.4% | 60 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +14.8% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 3,250 | |
| Bookkeeper | -1.1% | 740 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.5% | 30 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #5 of the 15 roles we track in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area (+0.0%), between recruiters (+0.3%) and executive assistants (-0.3%). The typical role here is at -5.9%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 39.2% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Northern 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. All 2 areas in New Mexico with more administrative assistants than the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area pay less, among them Albuquerque, NM ($46,950) and the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area ($42,850).
| Area | Median | vs the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | +5.5% | 2,410 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | this area | 3,250 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | -1.3% | 11,020 | |
| Farmington, NM | -3.6% | 1,250 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -9.9% | 4,470 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -13.7% | 2,360 |
the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area is #88 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, Springfield and Sheboygan pay just above the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area and Naples-Marco Island and Des Moines-West Des Moines just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | +17.1% | 3,220 | jobs | |
| Reno, NV | +1.6% | 3,230 | jobs | |
| Sheboygan, WI | +0.0% | 480 | pay | |
| Springfield, IL | +0.0% | 1,290 | pay | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | this area | 3,250 | ||
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | -0.1% | 1,670 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -0.1% | 3,110 | pay | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -3.8% | 3,270 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro)?
About $61,355 a year at the median, or $5,113 a month: $47,550 in pay plus about $13,805 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area?
The median was $47,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,230, the 90th $60,920, and the middle half earned $38,380 to $59,860.
Is the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $47,550 against $46,450 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is Santa Fe at $50,170, the next down Albuquerque at $46,950.
How many administrative assistants work in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 3,250 in the May 2025 survey. That is 13% of the New Mexico total of 25,430. Only Albuquerque and the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area have more in New Mexico.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a bookkeeper in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area?
Yes: $500 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,550 and $47,050.
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.