Military / Defense Specialist.
Albuquerque.
$60,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$44,000 to $79,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Albuquerque is 12% cheaper than the national average. For Military / Defense Specialists, that shakes out to a median of $60,000, with the full range spanning $44,000 to $79,000. Clearance level and technical specialization are the primary salary drivers for defense civilians and contractors. 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 $54,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$39,000
to $48,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$51,000
to $63,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$66,000
to $78,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$75,000
to $93,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $14,000 to the total package.
Base
$60,000
Equity
$8,000
Bonus
$5,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $74,000
How Albuquerque compares
Albuquerque, NM
$60,000
Cost of living: 12% below average
National Average
$70,000
Albuquerque is $10,000 below
Military / Defense Specialist salary by city
Salary by role in Albuquerque
What you should know
The Military / Defense Specialist landscape in Albuquerque is not what most salary sites will tell you. 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. Clearance level and technical specialization are the primary salary drivers for defense civilians and contractors. TS/SCI with polygraph adds $15,000 to $30,000 over uncleared peers. Intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and systems engineering roles pay the most. Proximity to defense hubs (DC metro, Huntsville, San Diego) concentrates the highest salaries.
Junior defense analysts start at $52,000 to $65,000. Mid-level specialists earn $70,000 to $92,000 after four to six years. Senior program analysts and team leads reach $95,000 to $130,000, with program managers at major defense contractors earning $140,000 to $190,000. 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. Defense contractors offer 8 to 15% bonuses and retention incentives for cleared personnel. Federal civilian roles (GS/GG scale) provide TSP matching, FERS pension, and locality pay adjustments of 15 to 35%. Deployed positions add hazard and hardship pay of 25 to 35%. 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 $60,000, 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 Military / Defense Specialists in Albuquerque runs from $44,000 to $79,000. 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.
Military / Defense Specialist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Albuquerque
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