Guard pay in New Mexico · Rank #12 of 51
What security guards make in New Mexico
8,410 employed officers · $20.83/hr median ($43,500/yr) · $22.26/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in New Mexico25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$20.83/hr median
| Security guards, New Mexico | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $17.10 | $35,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $20.83 | $43,500 |
| Average (mean) | $22.26 | $46,500 |
| 75th percentile | $25.74 | $53,500 |
| 90th percentile | $31.17 | $65,000 |
| Supervisors, median | $29.97 | $62,500 |
Security guard pay by city in New MexicoOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce3 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMAlbuquerque, NM | 4,440 | $21.53 | $22.42 | $26.34 |
| Las Cruces, NMLas Cruces, NM | 650 | $17.79 | $19.98 | $22.92 |
| Santa Fe, NMSanta Fe, NM | 630 | $19.70 | $21.22 | $23.25 |
Estimate your own pay in New MexicoAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$17.10
$20.83
$25.74
$31.17
How this range is calculated & BLS source
- Experience places you inside the state wage distribution: newer guards near the 25th percentile, 7+ years between the 75th and 90th.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), 2025 annual estimates (bls.gov), retrieved 2026-10-16. Ranges are statistical estimates for negotiation context, not a guarantee of pay.
How New Mexico compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #12 of 51
New Mexico ranks 12 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 14% above the national median of $18.28. The middle half of New Mexico guards earned between $17.10 and $25.74 an hour; the top tenth earned $31.17 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), 2025 annual estimates, occupations 33-9032 Security Guards and 33-1091 First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers, New Mexico table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.