Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in New Mexico
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Mexico have a median of $69,180 a year, below the national $76,210 (−9%); the state ranks 32nd of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 47% more than the median across all occupations in New Mexico ($47,210). Among neighbouring states, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Texas pay more (up to $97,350 in Colorado) and Oklahoma pays less (down to $59,700 in Oklahoma). New Mexico employs 4,580 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 5.26 per 1,000 jobs, the 37th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.22 means the occupation is more concentrated in New Mexico than nationally.
New Mexico vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $23.27 | $28.30 | $33.26 | $35.30 | $41.22 | $32.07 | 4,580 | 5.26 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $48,400 | $58,870 | $69,180 | $73,430 | $85,740 | $66,700 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.84 | $28.50 | $36.64 | $46.93 | $55.35 | $38.08 | 670,520 | – | – |
| Annual | $47,510 | $59,290 | $76,210 | $97,600 | $115,120 | $79,200 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 32nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 37th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.22
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.26
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of New Mexico's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in New Mexico
4 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching New Mexico publish a row for police and sheriff's patrol officers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | $35.89 | $74,640 | $54,080 | $97,090 | 310 | 5.02 | 1.16 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $35.28 | $73,380 | $60,480 | $74,030 | 1,780 | 4.40 | 1.02 |
| Farmington, NM | $29.90 | $62,200 | $58,440 | $72,970 | 230 | 4.92 | 1.14 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $29.19 | $60,720 | $48,060 | $91,850 | 430 | 5.36 | 1.24 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $29.50 | $61,360 | $44,980 | $85,740 | 1,140 | 6.83 | 1.58 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $28.55 | $59,390 | $48,040 | $88,730 | 690 | 8.15 | 1.89 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (every state ranked) and the New Mexico wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS New Mexico estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.