Environment Manager.
Albuquerque.
$96,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$75,000 to $125,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Albuquerque is 12% cheaper than the national average. For Environment Managers, that shakes out to a median of $96,000, with the full range spanning $75,000 to $125,000. Environment Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $87,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$62,000
to $77,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$82,000
to $101,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$106,000
to $125,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$120,000
to $149,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.
Base
$96,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $116,000
How Albuquerque compares
Albuquerque, NM
$96,000
Cost of living: 12% below average
National Average
$110,000
Albuquerque is $14,000 below
Environment Manager salary by city
Salary by role in Albuquerque
What you should know
Here is what the Environment Manager market actually looks like in Albuquerque. Albuquerque's economy is driven by Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, Kirtland Air Force Base, and a growing film production industry. The city offers affordable living and a strong pipeline of research and engineering jobs tied to national defense and energy programs. Environment Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. At the mid-management level, the scope of the organization under management ($10M budget vs $100M+) drives the largest compensation variance.
Environment Managers progress Manager → Senior Manager → Director → Senior Director → VP → SVP → C-suite over 12 to 20 years. Each step adds org scope roughly 3x (manage 6 → 20 → 60 → 200 → 500+ people). The biggest inflection is Director → VP, which requires demonstrated P&L responsibility. In Albuquerque, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 12% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation for Environment Managers runs roughly $119K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At management levels, variable compensation (bonus + LTIP) grows as a share of total — expect 30–50% variable at director and 50%+ variable at VP and above. And on the tax side: new Mexico's top income tax rate is 5.9%. Albuquerque has no city income tax. The moderate state rate and affordable housing create reasonable net compensation. When someone quotes you $96,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight security clearance or national lab experience. Sandia and Los Alamos pay nationally competitive salaries with excellent federal benefits packages. The range for Environment Managers in Albuquerque runs from $75,000 to $125,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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