New Mexico · SOC 19-1023

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New Mexico

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for New Mexico; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$68,220

per year in this state

11% below

National Median

$76,780

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$32.80/hr

median hourly

Employment

170

jobs in NM

Salary Range in New Mexico

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$51,080
25th$63,480
Median$68,220
75th$80,290
90th$96,100

What This Means for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New Mexico

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, New Mexico ranks #35 of 48 states and territories for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay, the middle tier (73rd percentile) nationally. Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists working in New Mexico earn a median salary of $68,220, which is 11% below the national median of $76,780. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $51,080 at the 10th percentile to $96,100 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists labor market inside New Mexico using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $68,220 ($32.80/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 170 workers in this SOC code (19-1023). Relative to the national median of $76,780, the state estimate is 11% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within New Mexico, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $51,080, the 25th earns $63,480, the 75th reaches $80,290, and the 90th hits $96,100. The upper boundary is roughly 1.9× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within New Mexico where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in New Mexico

Similar Occupations in New Mexico

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside New Mexico. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 19-1023. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make in New Mexico?
The median annual salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New Mexico is $68,220 (11% below national avg). Pay ranges from $51,080 (10th percentile) to $96,100 (90th percentile).
How many Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists work in New Mexico?
There are approximately 170 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists employed in New Mexico, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New Mexico?
The median hourly wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New Mexico is $32.80/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in New Mexico.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's New Mexico figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.