Civil Engineer Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Civil Engineers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $105,080 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,936 take-home, or $6,578 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,288
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,515
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,524
- New Mexico income tax$3,818
- Take-home pay$78,936
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.90% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,780 | $35.95 | $59,089 | $4,924 |
| 25th percentile | $80,780 | $38.84 | $63,028 | $5,252 |
| Median (50th) | $105,080 | $50.52 | $78,936 | $6,578 |
| 75th percentile | $129,040 | $62.04 | $94,473 | $7,873 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,290 | $74.66 | $111,128 | $9,261 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,080 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $78,936 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,615 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Albuquerque, NM than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #23 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 23 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,080 | $78,936 | $82,615 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median civil engineer salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $105,080 a year, or about $50.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,780 and $129,040.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $105,080 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $78,936 a year ($6,578 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,818 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,615 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #23 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Electrical Engineer — $163,720
- Engineers, All Other — $163,630
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $153,900
- Industrial Engineer — $132,290
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $61,280
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $46,740