Physicists pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $168,780 or more. The middle half of physicists in Las Cruces earn between $84,990 and $144,040.
- $74K10th
- $85K25th
- $112KMedian
- $144K75th
- $169K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $120,260 | $10,022 | $57.82 |
| Median | $112,400 | $9,367 | $54.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,990 | $7,082 | $40.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $144,040 | $12,003 | $69.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Physicists in Las Cruces earn 32% less than the New Mexico average ($176,680) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $120,260 | $112,400 | $73,920 | $168,780 | 30 |
| New Mexico | $176,680 | $165,340 | $120,720 | $235,180 | 580 |
| United States | $171,180 | $172,250 | $82,110 | $274,110 | 20,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physicists salary after taxes in Las Cruces
On the average salary of $120,260, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $88,871 a year, or $7,406 a month and $3,418 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Las Cruces a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $120,260 buys what about $133,308 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other New Mexico cities
Las Cruces ranks 2nd of 2 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Albuquerque pays the most ($177,280).
- Albuquerque$177,280
- Las Cruces$120,260
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Las Cruces: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Las Cruces?
$57.82 an hour on average, and $54.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $88,871 a year ($7,406 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $120,260.
Do physicists earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% less than the U.S. average for this job ($171,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.14, this job is 3.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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