Cost of hiring in Santa Fe, NM
BLS counts about 7,600 people in these 13 roles in Santa Fe1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($89,380 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($37,040), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 2,410 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Santa Fe
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +6.3% | 600 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +5.5% | 2,410 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +2.4% | 320 | |
| Bookkeeper | +0.4% | 560 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -2.6% | 400 | |
| Paralegal | -4.1% | 280 | |
| Office Manager | -5.4% | 610 | |
| Recruiter | -6.1% | 320 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.4% | 830 | |
| Project Coordinator | -12.6% | 240 | |
| Accountant | -13.0% | 620 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -16.1% | 260 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -23.1% | 150 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $50,170 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $64,735 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Santa Fe against the US
Santa Fe pays above the US median for 3 of the 13 roles, most of all for executive assistants (+6.3%) and administrative assistants (+5.5%), and below it for 9, furthest for marketing specialists (-23.1%). For bookkeepers it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 13 is -5.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for executive assistants, #19 of 509 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #390 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Santa Fe has more administrative assistants (31.7% of these jobs here, against 11.1% nationally) and executive assistants (7.9% against 3.0%), and fewer marketing specialists (2.0% against 5.8%) and sales development representatives (3.4% against 8.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Rockford, IL is nearest, at -5.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | -5.4% (this area) | 13 | 7,600 |
| Rockford, IL | -5.4% | 17 | 11,210 |
| Medford, OR | -5.4% | 17 | 8,460 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | -5.4% | 17 | 11,320 |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -5.5% | 17 | 34,660 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -5.5% | 14 | 3,650 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Santa Fe span $33,790–$103,010, the widest band (3.0×); paralegals the narrowest, $54,310–$80,490. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 13 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, paralegals, sales development representatives and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($68,340 against a $60,560 median for marketing specialists).
Santa Fe against New Mexico
Against New Mexico as a whole, Santa Fe pays more for 8 of 13 roles, led by executive assistants (+10.2%) and administrative assistants (+8.0%), and less for 4, most of all project coordinators (-16.4%). It has the highest median in New Mexico for executive assistants, office managers and bookkeepers and 2 more roles.
Other areas in New Mexico
By jobs in these roles, Santa Fe is #5 of 6 areas in New Mexico. The table shows the other 5.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 48,070 | 17 |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | 15,000 | 15 |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | 8,290 | 15 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 8,050 | 14 |
| Farmington, NM | 4,200 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Santa Fe?
Of the 13 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $89,380 a year, about $115,329 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,040.
Is hiring in Santa Fe cheaper than the US median?
For 9 of the 13 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-23.1%). 3 pay more than the US median, led by executive assistants (+6.3%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.