What does a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 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 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earning $45,820 in New Mexico has the equivalent purchasing power of $50,351 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) | $36,220 | $39,802 | +$3,582 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,710 | $41,439 | +$3,729 |
| Median (P50) | $45,820 | $50,351 | +$4,531 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $50,730 | $55,747 | +$5,017 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $59,550 | $65,439 | +$5,889 |
A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in New Mexico earns $45,820 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $50,351 in an average-cost state. This makes New Mexico one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Mexico ranks #38 out of 49 states for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in New Mexico earns a median salary of $45,820 per year. After adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (RPP=91.0), the real purchasing power is $50,351 — 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 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in New Mexico: $45,820 x (100 / 91.0) = $50,351. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 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.