Waiter and Waitress salary in New Mexico
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in New Mexico earns a median of $36,920 a year ($17.75/hour equivalent), 4.8% above the national median of $35,230. New Mexico ranks #16 of 51 states. About 12,740 people do this job in New Mexico.
Take-home pay in New Mexico
At the New Mexico median, a single filer keeps about $31,225 a year after federal, FICA and New Mexico taxes — $1,201 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the New Mexico paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,420.00
- Federal income tax
- −$86.55
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$88.04
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.59
- New Mexico income tax
- −$23.86
- Take-home pay
- $1,200.96
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $36,920
- Federal
- $2,250
- FICA
- $2,824
- State + local
- $620
- Net
- $31,225
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.3%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How New Mexico compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #16 | New Mexico | $36,920 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in New Mexico?
The median salary is $36,920 a year and the average is $43,210 (BLS May 2025).
Is New Mexico a good state for waiters and waitresses?
New Mexico ranks #16 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 5% above the national median of $35,230.
What is $36,920 after taxes in New Mexico?
About $31,225 a year ($1,201 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.