What does a Surgical Assistants 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 Surgical Assistants earning $46,810 in New Mexico has the equivalent purchasing power of $51,439 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) | $40,250 | $44,230 | +$3,980 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $40,250 | $44,230 | +$3,980 |
| Median (P50) | $46,810 | $51,439 | +$4,629 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $58,460 | $64,241 | +$5,781 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $66,560 | $73,142 | +$6,582 |
A Surgical Assistants in New Mexico earns $46,810 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $51,439 in an average-cost state. This makes New Mexico one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Surgical Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Mexico ranks #35 out of 44 states for Surgical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Surgical Assistants in New Mexico earns a median salary of $46,810 per year. After adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (RPP=91.0), the real purchasing power is $51,439 — 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 Surgical Assistants in New Mexico: $46,810 x (100 / 91.0) = $51,439. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Surgical Assistants 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.