What does a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary really buy you in New Mexico?
New Mexico is 9.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
New Mexico's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.0, meaning prices are 9.0% lower the national average. A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earning $37,080 in New Mexico has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,747 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $30,510 | $33,527 | +$3,017 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,320 | $37,714 | +$3,394 |
| Median (P50) | $37,080 | $40,747 | +$3,667 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $39,490 | $43,395 | +$3,905 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $46,380 | $50,967 | +$4,587 |
A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in New Mexico earns $37,080 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $40,747 in an average-cost state. This makes New Mexico one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Mexico ranks #31 out of 47 states for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in New Mexico earns a median salary of $37,080 per year. After adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (RPP=91.0), the real purchasing power is $40,747 — a +9.9% difference.
New Mexico's cost of living is 9.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New Mexico is 91.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in New Mexico: $37,080 x (100 / 91.0) = $40,747. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in New Mexico enjoys 9.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.