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Highest-paying police departments in New Mexico for laterals (2026)

All 6 New Mexico agencies we track that post a salary, ranked by the top of their annual pay range. Ruidoso Police Department leads at $92,123; the median top-of-range here is $77,913. Hourly and monthly rates are converted to annual (×2,080, ×12), and hiring bonuses are shown separately, not added to pay.

Last verified: 2026-10-18. Every row links to the agency's official posting or announcement; blank fields mean the source did not state the value. Bonuses are usually paid in installments with a service commitment, so confirm with the agency before applying.

#AgencyStateLateral bonusPay (annual)Out-of-stateClosesSource
1Ruidoso Police Department
Ruidoso · Municipal police
NMNone listed$50,336 - $92,123UnknownUnknownOfficial source
2Carlsbad Police Department
Carlsbad · Municipal police
NM$15,000$70,054 - $88,171UnknownContinuousOfficial source
3Los Lunas Police Department
Los Lunas · Municipal police
NM$5,000$62,317 - $77,913UnknownContinuousOfficial source
4Las Cruces Police Department
Las Cruces · Municipal police
NM$35,000$62,962 - $75,566
converted from $30.27-$36.33 hourly (x2080)
YesUnknownOfficial source
5Grant County Sheriff's Office
Silver City · Sheriff's office
NMNone listed$49,691 - $69,576UnknownContinuousOfficial source
6San Juan County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's office
NMNone listed$63,669
converted from $30.61 Hourly
UnknownUnknownOfficial source

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