How Much Does a CNA Make in Albuquerque, NM in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Albuquerque, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across New Mexico.
BLS OES May 2025 · Albuquerque metro area
A typical CNA in Albuquerque, New Mexico earns $19.21 per hour, or $39,950 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,329 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,240, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,000.
That pay is 1% above the New Mexico figure of $39,390 and 5% below the national figure of $42,260. Albuquerque ranks 2nd of 4 metro areas in New Mexico for CNA pay. About 2,110 CNAs work in the Albuquerque area.
CNA pay in Albuquerque at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.21 an hour, or $39,950 a year.
- That is 1% above the New Mexico figure, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,240; the top 10% make over $49,000.
- Typical pay rose +43% from 2015 to 2025, against +52% for New Mexico as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Albuquerque?
Pay in Albuquerque runs from entry-level positions at around $16.94 an hour to more than $23.56 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the New Mexico and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Albuquerque
| Career stage | Albuquerque | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,240$16.94 an hour | $34,110$16.40 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,410$18.47 an hour | $37,310$17.94 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,950$19.21 an hour | $39,390$18.94 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,410$21.83 an hour | $45,410$21.83 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,000$23.56 an hour | $48,340$23.24 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Albuquerque area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Albuquerque
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Albuquerque area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Albuquerque was $27,850 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,950, a change of +43%, compared with +52% for New Mexico over the same years.
How Albuquerque compares with other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe pays CNAs the most in New Mexico at $46,530 a year, $6,580 more than Albuquerque. The lowest-paying area in the state is Las Cruces at $37,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Albuquerque | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $46,530 | $22.37 | +16% | 410 |
| 2 | Albuquerque | $39,950 | $19.21 | this city | 2,110 |
| 3 | Farmington | $39,390 | $18.94 | -1% | 330 |
| 4 | Las Cruces | $37,400 | $17.98 | -6% | 390 |
Every metro area in New Mexico with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · New Mexico typical pay $39,390
Is Albuquerque a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Albuquerque earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,950 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Albuquerque area, about 5.2 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Albuquerque, NM?
- A typical CNA in Albuquerque earns $39,950 a year, or $19.21 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,240 and the top 10% earn over $49,000.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Albuquerque?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Albuquerque is $19.21. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.94, and the top 10% earn over $23.56 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Albuquerque?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Albuquerque typically offer around $16.94 an hour, or $35,240 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Albuquerque higher than in the rest of New Mexico?
- Albuquerque pay is 1% above the New Mexico figure of $39,390 a year, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state. Santa Fe pays the most in New Mexico at $46,530.