BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Mexico

$84,880 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$40.81 per hour

▼ 14.6% below U.S. average41st of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$84,880per year
Median$86,840per year
Hourly$40.81per hour
10th – 90th percentile$47,480 – $111,970per year

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Pay Range in New Mexico

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,480
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$59,160
  • 50th Percentile — Median$86,840
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$109,300
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$111,970

Half of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Mexico earn more than $86,840. The top 10% make $111,970 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,480.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Mexico: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • New Mexico ranks 41st of 51 states for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay, at $84,880 per year (14.6% below the U.S. average of $99,430).
  • 2,020 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Mexico — 1.8% of all U.S. Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs.
  • Location quotient 3.15: Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs are more concentrated in New Mexico than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,480; the top 10% earn over $111,970.
  • Hourly equivalent: $40.81 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,110.
  • Among public safety jobs in New Mexico, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($94,900).

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Job Market in New Mexico

Key factors affecting compensation

New Mexico's key industries are Government, Energy, Tourism, and its job market is rated moderate. Detectives and Criminal Investigators here earn $84,880 on average, placing the state 41st nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a New Mexico salary of $84,880 is roughly equivalent to $96,455 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Iowa ($87,110), Kentucky ($86,900), Oklahoma ($86,620) are the closest alternatives for Detectives and Criminal Investigators weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in New Mexico?

The average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in New Mexico is $84,880 per year (median $86,840), which is 14.6% below the national average of $99,430.

How does New Mexico rank for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay?

New Mexico ranks 41st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,110/yr).

How much do entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in New Mexico?

The lowest-paid 10% of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Mexico earn about $47,480 per year and the 25th percentile is $59,160.

How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in New Mexico?

About $40.81 per hour, based on the $84,880 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Detectives and Criminal Investigators work in New Mexico?

BLS counts 2,020 Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs in New Mexico (OEWS May 2025).

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