What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in New Mexico earned $104,600 in 2024, about 9% above the US median of $96,198. That is a real premium, and it holds up even after you account for what money buys here.
New Mexico's cost-of-living index sits at 93.2, meaning prices run about 7% below the national baseline. In practical terms, that $104,600 stretches further than the same number would in most states. Adjusted for local prices, the purchasing power lands closer to $112,200 in national-baseline dollars, which puts New Mexico civil engineers well ahead of most peers on a like-for-like basis.
The spread between earners is wide. The bottom tenth made around $66,180 in 2024, while the top tenth reached $149,200. Top earners make about 2.25 times what those starting out make. That kind of range usually reflects a mix of experience levels, specializations, and the types of projects available. New Mexico's civil engineering work skews heavily toward public infrastructure: water systems, highways, and federal projects tied to military installations and national labs. Those sectors tend to pay steadily but rarely at Silicon Valley rates, which explains both the solid median and the ceiling at the high end.
BLS projects employment for Civil Engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. At 1,400 total jobs in the state, the field is small enough that even modest growth produces meaningful openings over a decade.
Salary distribution
Where New Mexico civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,290 and $125,560, with a median of $104,600.
Civil Engineers in New Mexico: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 21 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,202. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 9 | $75,046 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $100,202 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $124,817 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $125,861 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in New Mexico. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSP USA Inc. | Geotechnical Engineer | 3 | $124,821 |
| Clayco, Inc. | Senior Project Engineer | 3 | $102,000 |
| Gridworks, Inc. | Sr. Geotechnical Engineer | 2 | $137,931 |
| Terracon Consultants, Inc. | Field Engineer | 2 | $72,500 |
| Triad National Security, LLC | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 2 | $101,128 |
| Moss & Associates, LLC | Senior Project Manager | 1 | $110,000 |
| M. A. Mortenson Company | Field Engineer | 1 | $77,199 |
| Ardurra Group, Inc. | Water/Wastewater Engineer I | 1 | $84,000 |
| Stantec Consulting Services Inc. | Civil Engineer - EIT | 1 | $76,003 |
| Horrocks LLC | Engineer in Training | 1 | $73,237 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Geotechnical Engineer at WSP USA Inc.$124,821AlbuquerqueDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-499365
- Senior Project Manager at Moss & Associates, LLC$110,000ChaparralDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497790
- Senior Project Engineer at Clayco, Inc.$103,000Santa TeresaDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-412440
- Field Engineer at M. A. Mortenson Company$77,199HobbsDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-394614
- Senior Project Engineer at Clayco, Inc.$102,000Santa TeresaDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-370369
- Sr. Geotechnical Engineer at Gridworks, Inc.$125,861ALBUQUERQUEDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-361564
- Senior Project Engineer at Clayco, Inc.$100,000Santa TeresaDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-364469
- Geotechnical Engineer at WSP USA Inc.$124,817AlbuquerqueWage Level IIIDecided Sep 4, 2025I-200-25239-271681
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Civil Engineers pay by experience level in New Mexico
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Civil Engineers specialties in New Mexico
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 9 certified offers. The most common variant is Geotechnical Engineer at a median of $124,821.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geotechnical Engineer | WSP USA Inc. | 3 | $124,821 |
| Senior Project Engineer | Clayco, Inc. | 3 | $102,000 |
| Field Engineer | Terracon Consultants, Inc. | 3 | $72,500 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in New Mexico, by industry
Median offered wage across 15 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $101,128.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | WSP USA Inc. | 13 | $101,128 |
| Energy and utilities | Public Service Company of New Mexico | 1 | $68,973 |
| Government and public sector | CITY OF GALLUP | 1 | $100,202 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New Mexico over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 02
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 03
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- 04
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- 05
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- 06
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- 07
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- 08
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in New Mexico?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in New Mexico is $104,600.
- How does New Mexico compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The New Mexico median is +8.7% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in New Mexico?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $66,180 and the 90th-percentile at $149,200, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Civil Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Civil Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.