Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in New Mexico
$84,880avg. a year
$40.81 an hour · 2,020 employed
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Mexico earn an average of $84,880 a year. That is $14,550 (15%) less than the U.S. average of $99,430. The best-paying metro area is Las Cruces, NM at $97,260.
$86,840Median pay
$40.81Average hourly
+6%Avg. pay since 2020
#41Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying New Mexico metro areas
Average pay for detectives and criminal investigators by metro area. Swipe to see all 4.
1560 jobs
Las Cruces, NM
$97,260
$46.76 an hour
260 jobs
Santa Fe, NM
$83,150
$39.98 an hour
3680 jobs
Albuquerque, NM
$70,140
$33.72 an hour
440 jobs
Farmington, NM
$66,030
$31.75 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in New Mexico, charted
Pay over time
New Mexico, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where New Mexico detectives and criminal investigators work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · New Mexico highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $87k$87k–$93k$93k–$106k$106k+New Mexico
New Mexico vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $99,430 | $47.80 |
| New Mexico | $84,880 | $40.81 |
| Colorado | $109,010 | $52.41 |
| Arizona | $100,000 | $48.08 |
| Texas | $92,030 | $44.24 |
| Utah | $89,940 | $43.24 |
| Oklahoma | $86,620 | $41.65 |
Related jobs in New Mexico
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$66,700
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$48,570
- Security Guards$46,300
- Firefighters$43,180
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$31,510
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$94,900
Average pay, New Mexico, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in New Mexico?
The average is $84,880 a year, and the median is $86,840. That is $14,550 (15%) less than the U.S. average of $99,430.
What is the hourly wage in New Mexico?
$40.81 an hour on average; the median is $41.75.
Where in New Mexico do they earn the most?
Las Cruces, NM ($97,260), followed by Santa Fe, NM ($83,150). The lowest average among 4 metro areas with data is Farmington, NM ($66,030).
How does New Mexico rank?
New Mexico ranks #41 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 33-3021. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national detectives and criminal investigators page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.