RN Salary by Role in New Mexico
RN Pay by Metro in New Mexico
Where you work inside New Mexico moves your paycheck. Here is what registered nurses earn in each major New Mexico market, compared with the national RN median of $97,550. Tap a metro for hospitals, openings and cost of living.
| Metro | Median RN pay | Typical range | NP median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $96,040 | $84,450 – $105,690 | $140,950 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
About RN Pay in New Mexico
RN salaries in New Mexico sit close to the national average, with staff nurses earning around $74,000 a year.
Pay climbs steadily with experience and responsibility. New grad RNs in New Mexico typically start around $54,000, while nurses who move into specialty units like the ICU, ER, or OR can expect closer to $84,000. Stepping into leadership pays off too — nurse managers average around $94,000, directors of nursing around $109,000, and chief nursing officers can earn $129,000 or more. Nurses who pursue advanced practice (NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM) report average earnings near $94,000.
New Mexico is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate RN or LPN license issued here is valid for practice in other compact states — useful for travel nursing, telehealth, or relocating without re-licensing.
As with any state, factor in local cost of living and taxes alongside salary when evaluating job offers in New Mexico.
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