Paralegal salary in Albuquerque, NM
For this job Albuquerque sits right at the New Mexico figure, with a median of $59,370 a year1. That is about level with the New Mexico statewide median of $59,840, and 5.6% below the US median of $62,890. Among US areas it comes in at #180 of 506. It is the largest market for the job in New Mexico: about 1,070 people, 61% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, 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 | $41,050 | $59,370 | $79,730 | |
| New Mexico | $43,660 | $59,840 | $80,490 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Albuquerque earns $45,050–$72,500. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $79,730, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $27,450 wide, between the figure for New Mexico ($24,390) and the US figure ($29,740).
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,050 | $3,421 | $19.74 | $52,968 |
| 25th percentile | $45,050 | $3,754 | $21.66 | $58,129 |
| Median | $59,370 | $4,948 | $28.54 | $76,606 |
| 75th percentile | $72,500 | $6,042 | $34.86 | $93,548 |
| 90th percentile | $79,730 | $6,644 | $38.33 | $102,877 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $13,130 a year in pay and about $16,942 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $14,320 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 $62,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Albuquerque, and the New Mexico statewide median of $59,840 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Albuquerque
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 $17,236 to the $59,370 median and brings it to $76,606 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 paralegals 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 #7 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($62,040) and sales development representatives ($57,910). Project Coordinator is the highest at $106,730.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +9.2% | 4,080 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +4.5% | 900 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 1,070 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -2.5% | 1,650 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -8.4% | 300 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque (-5.6%), between accountants (-4.5%) and payroll specialists (-6.6%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Paralegals hold 2.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Albuquerque, 1.8% across New Mexico and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 6 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $59,150 in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area to $64,370 in Las Cruces, a gap of $5,220 a year. No other area in New Mexico has as many paralegals, and 1 of the other 5 pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | +8.4% | 130 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +4.5% | 150 | |
| Santa Fe, NM | +1.6% | 280 | |
| Farmington, NM | +0.0% | 30 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 1,070 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -0.4% | 60 |
Albuquerque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albuquerque is #59 of 503 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, York-Hanover and Minot pay just above Albuquerque and Chattanooga and Bowling Green just below. All four are within $200 a year of the median in Albuquerque. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +8.2% | 1,010 | jobs | |
| Minot, ND | +0.1% | 70 | pay | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +0.1% | 240 | pay | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 1,070 | ||
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -0.1% | 530 | pay | |
| Bowling Green, KY | -0.3% | 160 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | -4.2% | 1,120 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | -9.9% | 1,140 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Albuquerque, NM?
About $76,606 a year at the median, or $6,384 a month: $59,370 in pay plus about $17,236 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Albuquerque?
The median was $59,370 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,050, the 90th $79,730, and the middle half earned $45,050 to $72,500.
Is Albuquerque cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for paralegals?
About the same: a median of $59,370 against $59,840 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is Farmington at $59,380, the next down the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area at $59,150.
How many paralegals work in Albuquerque?
BLS counts about 1,070 in the May 2025 survey. That is 61% of the New Mexico total of 1,740. No other area in New Mexico has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than a sales development representative in Albuquerque?
Yes: $1,460 a year more at the median. The medians are $59,370 and $57,910.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: 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.