Actuary Pay

Actuary Salary in New Mexico: $111,461 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across New Mexico's 17 metropolitan areas, the average median actuary pay sits at $111,461/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 15-2011. Because New Mexico sits at BEA RPP 94.4 (6% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $118,073 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Albuquerque ($114,239), Las Cruces ($108,377), Rio Rancho ($107,971).

Actuary Salary in New Mexico - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
New Mexico actuary salary overview (2026)
$111,461
Avg Median Salary
$53.59
Avg Hourly Rate
257
Metro Employed
17
Cities

For actuaries considering a career in New Mexico, the average median salary is projected to be $111,461 in 2026, which is approximately 16.9% lower than the national median of $134,160. This disparity reflects local market conditions and demand factors impacting the profession in the state. The highest salaries are found in Albuquerque at $117,895, while Taos offers the lowest at $99,592, highlighting a salary gap of $18,303. This difference can be attributed to variations in the cost of living, local demand for actuarial services, and the concentration of employers in these areas. In New Mexico, actuaries must comply with state licensing requirements and be aware of specific scope of practice laws, which can influence their career paths and job responsibilities. The job market shows a positive outlook with a projected annual growth rate of 3.20%, indicating steady demand for actuarial professionals. Other cities projected to offer competitive salaries include Las Cruces at $111,845, Rio Rancho at $111,426, Santa Fe at $109,305, and Farmington at $106,693. With a total of 257 actuaries employed in the state, opportunities remain significant for those entering the field.

New Mexico Actuary Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$66,443
avg across 17 cities
Median
$111,461
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$172,749
avg across 17 cities

Overall salary range in New Mexico: $61,109 (lowest entry-level) to $182,736 (highest top earner)

New Mexico vs National Average

New Mexico
$111,461
National Median
$134,160

New Mexico actuaries earn 16.92% less than the national median ($-22,699/year difference).

New Mexico Actuary Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing New Mexico actuary salary percentiles: 10th percentile $66,443, 25th $82,206, Median $111,461, 75th $142,556, 90th $172,749. US national median is $134,160.$48.4K$96.7K$145.1K$193.5K$66.4K10thEntry Level$82.2K25thEarly Career$111.5KMedianMid Career$142.6K75thExperienced$172.7K90thTop EarnerUS Median $134.2K

Actuary salaries in New Mexico range from $66,443 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $172,749 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $111,461. The New Mexico median is $22,699 below the US national median of $134,160. The average hourly rate is $53.59/hr. Approximately 257 actuarys are employed across 17 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$90,018

2025 BLS Actual

$108,005

2026 Current Est.

$111,461

2019–2027 Growth

+27.8%

Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in New Mexico (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for actuaries in New Mexico. Baseline $90,018 in 2025, projected to $115,028 by 2027.$82.6K$92.0K$101.5K$111.0K$120.4K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$90.0K$92.2K$88.0K$94.7K$99.7K$105.0K$108.0K$111.5K$115.0K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$90,018Actual
2020$92,244Actual
2021$87,982Actual
2022$94,704Actual
2023$99,697Actual
2024$104,970Actual
2025$108,005Actual
2026(current)$111,461Estimated
2027$115,028Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Mexico metropolitan area, the median actuary salary grew 20.0% from $90,018 (2019) to $108,005 (2025). At a 3.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $115,028 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,010 (27.78%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Mexico metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New Mexico

#1
Albuquerque
109 employed · $56.68/hr
$117,895
+5.77% vs avg
#2
Las Cruces
28 employed · $53.77/hr
$111,845
+0.34% vs avg
#3
Rio Rancho
16 employed · $53.57/hr
$111,426
-0.03% vs avg
#4
Santa Fe
20 employed · $52.55/hr
$109,305
-1.93% vs avg
#5
Farmington
8 employed · $51.29/hr
$106,693
-4.28% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in New Mexico

CityMedian Salary
Taos$99,592
Los Alamos$99,779
Los Lunas$100,618
Las Vegas$100,633
Gallup$100,650

Best Value Cities for Actuaries in New Mexico

When adjusted for local cost of living, these New Mexico cities offer the most purchasing power for actuaries.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Albuquerque$117,89594.4$124,889
Las Cruces$111,84594.4$118,480
Rio Rancho$111,42694.4$118,036
Santa Fe$109,30594.4$115,789
Farmington$106,69394.4$113,022

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in New Mexico

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$66,443
Mid Career (3-7 years)$111,461
Experienced (7+ years)$172,749

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New Mexico metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 17 Cities in New Mexico

#CityMedian Salary
1Albuquerque$117,895
2Las Cruces$111,845
3Rio Rancho$111,426
4Santa Fe$109,305
5Farmington$106,693
6Roswell$106,198
7Alamogordo$105,324
8Hobbs$105,265
9South Valley$104,837
10Clovis$102,804
11Carlsbad$102,645
12Deming$101,008
13Gallup$100,650
14Las Vegas$100,633
15Los Lunas$100,618
16Los Alamos$99,779
17Taos$99,592

More New Mexico Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore actuary hourly pay in New Mexico cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new actuaries.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced actuaries.

Explore More Actuary Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do actuaries make in New Mexico in 2026?

The average median actuary salary in New Mexico is $111,461/year across 17 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $99,592 in Taos to $117,895 in Albuquerque. This makes New Mexico 16.92% below the national median of $134,160. The state employs approximately 257 actuaries.

What is the highest paying city for actuaries in New Mexico?

Albuquerque offers the highest actuary salary in New Mexico at $117,895/year ($56.68/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Albuquerque ($117,895), Las Cruces ($111,845), Rio Rancho ($111,426). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for actuarial science services, and competition among employers for licensed actuaries.

How does New Mexico actuary pay compare to the national average?

New Mexico's average actuary salary of $111,461 is 16.92% below the national median of $134,160 in 2026. The state employs approximately 257 actuaries across 17 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level actuary salary in New Mexico?

Entry-level actuaries (10th percentile) in New Mexico earn approximately $66,443/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $61,109 in lower-paying areas to $68,379 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many actuaries are employed in New Mexico?

New Mexico employs approximately 257 actuaries across 17 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the actuarial science field expands and the population ages.

Which New Mexico city offers the best value for actuaries?

When adjusted for cost of living, Albuquerque offers the highest purchasing power for actuaries in New Mexico, with an adjusted salary of $124,889 (nominal: $117,895, CoL index: 94.4). This means your dollar goes 6% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
MC

Written by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in life insurance. She specializes in risk assessment and pricing strategies.

Clinically reviewed by David Patel, ASA, MAAAData verified by Aisha Khan, FSA, CERA

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 actuary compensation across New Mexico. State averages are employment-weighted across 17 metro areas — larger metro areas with more actuariescontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for actuarys (SOC 15-2011).

Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

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