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County Employment and Wages in New Mexico — First Quarter 2025
Employment rose in the two largest counties in New Mexico from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Doña Ana County had the larger over-the-year increase in employment at 3.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in New Mexico, March 2025
County
Percent change, March 2025
Dona Aña
3.0
Bernalillo
0.2
Among the two largest counties in New Mexico, employment was highest in Bernalillo (345,000) in March 2025. Together, the two largest counties accounted for 49.0 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2025
Both large New Mexico counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Bernalillo had the largest gain (+4.4 percent), followed by Doña Ana (+4.2 percent).
Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in New Mexico, first quarter 2025
County
Percent change, first quarter 2025
Bernalillo
4.4
Dona Aña
4.2
Weekly wages in both large counties in New Mexico were below the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages in Bernalillo and Doña Ana were $1,273 and $986, respectively.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2025
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 31 small counties in New Mexico, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Among the 31 smaller counties in New Mexico, Los Alamos ($2,232) reported the only average weekly wage above the national average. Catron reported the lowest average weekly wage ($760) in the state.
When all 33 New Mexico counties were considered, 3 reported average weekly wages of $799 or lower, 9 registered wages from $800 to $899, 9 had wages from $900 to $999, 4 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 8 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in New Mexico, first quarter 2025
(U.S. average = $1,589)
Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.
Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
County Changes for the 2025 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2024 are included in this release and will be included in future 2025 releases. Four counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Pinal, AZ; Henry, GA; Wood, OH; and Comal, TX. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Gregg, TX.
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the two largest counties in New Mexico, first quarter 2025
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications. (3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in New Mexico, first quarter 2025
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2025
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (3) Data not included in the national ranking.
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
United States Department of Labor
