How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in New Mexico in 2026?
Typical pay for Physician Assistants in New Mexico, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · New Mexico · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical Physician Assistant in New Mexico earns about $67.27 per hour ($139,920 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $11,660 a month, or $2,691 a week, based on the annual figure.
That figure sits 3% above the national median of $135,880 a year, placing New Mexico 14th among the 51 states tracked for this occupation. About 700 Physician Assistants work across the state, a workforce size that helps put the pay figures in context.
Physician Assistant pay in New Mexico at a glance
- Physician Assistants in New Mexico typically earn $67.27 an hour, or $139,920 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025).
- New Mexico pay runs 3% above the national figure for Physician Assistants and ranks 14th out of 51 states.
- Farmington leads the state, where Physician Assistant pay reaches $142,890 a year, the highest in New Mexico.
- Entry-level Physician Assistants in New Mexico start around $70,010 a year, while the top 10% make over $172,900.
- New Mexico Physician Assistant pay has climbed 42% over the past decade, from $98,560 in 2015 to $139,920 in 2025.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physician Assistant make in New Mexico?
Physician Assistant pay by career stage in New Mexico
| Career stage | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $70,010$33.66 an hour | $99,380$47.78 an hour |
| First years | $106,240$51.08 an hour | $120,670$58.02 an hour |
| Typical Physician Assistant | $139,920$67.27 an hour | $135,880$65.33 an hour |
| Experienced | $153,560$73.83 an hour | $163,980$78.84 an hour |
| Top 10% | $172,900$83.12 an hour | $190,280$91.48 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
Physician Assistant pay by experience level in New Mexico
Entry-level positions in New Mexico typically offer around $33.66 an hour, or about $70,010 a year, according to the same wage data. Pay tends to rise from there as Physician Assistants gain clinical experience and take on more responsibility. Within a few years, many reach the typical pay level of $67.27 an hour. The climb reflects experience, added certifications, and the setting a PA works in.
Experienced Physician Assistants in New Mexico often earn upwards of $73.83 to $83.12 an hour, with the top 10% making over $172,900 a year. That leaves a spread of $102,890 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years on the job, and which city a PA works in all factor into where someone lands on that range.
Physician Assistant pay growth in New Mexico
Typical (median) annual wage for Physician Assistants in New Mexico · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
New Mexico Physician Assistant pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $98,560 a year; by 2025 it reached $139,920, a gain of $41,360. That amounts to a 42% rise over ten years, according to the same wage data.
That outpaces the national decade rise of 38% for the same occupation, meaning New Mexico's gains slightly exceeded the country as a whole. For someone starting out now, the record shows pay has moved up steadily in New Mexico, though nothing guarantees the same climb continues.
Physician Assistant salary by city in New Mexico
Pay runs highest in Farmington, where Physician Assistants typically earn $142,890 a year ($68.70 an hour), about 2% above the statewide figure. Las Cruces follows close behind at $141,350 a year, and Albuquerque, the state's largest metro for this occupation, pays $139,920 a year. All figures cover each city's full metro area.
Santa Fe pays the least among the four New Mexico cities tracked, at $127,730 a year ($61.41 an hour), a spread of $15,160 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Albuquerque employs the most Physician Assistants in the state, with 380 working there. Pay differences across cities often track differences in local living costs.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs New Mexico | Physician Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmington | $142,890 | $68.70 | +2% | 50 |
| 2 | Las Cruces | $141,350 | $67.96 | +1% | 100 |
| 3 | Albuquerque | $139,920 | $67.27 | 0% | 380 |
| 4 | Santa Fe | $127,730 | $61.41 | -9% | 50 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · New Mexico typical pay $139,920
How New Mexico compares with nearby states
New Mexico pays Physician Assistants more than each of its four neighboring states. Oklahoma comes closest at $136,550 a year, about 2% below New Mexico's figure, while Arizona, Texas, and Colorado each pay around $134,550 to $134,650 a year, roughly 4% below New Mexico. Physician Assistant licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, which makes cross-border moves easier to plan.
| State | Typical pay | Vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $139,920 | baseline |
| Oklahoma | $136,550 | -2% |
| Arizona | $134,650 | -4% |
| Texas | $134,550 | -4% |
| Colorado | $134,540 | -4% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical Physician Assistant pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is New Mexico a good state for Physician Assistants?
Physician Assistants in New Mexico earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $139,920 a year, 3% above the national figure, ranking 14th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in New Mexico, about 0.8 are Physician Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.0. That makes Physician Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates. Overall, New Mexico is a middle-of-the-table state for Physician Assistant pay, close to the national figure.
Summary
Physician Assistants in New Mexico typically earn $139,920 a year, a figure that has risen 42% over the past decade and sits above both the national median and every neighboring state. Anyone considering the role in New Mexico can check the state licensing board or PA registry for current requirements, and review city-level pages for Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Farmington, and Santa Fe to compare local pay figures before making a move.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physician Assistant make in New Mexico?
- Physician Assistants in New Mexico typically earn $67.27 an hour, or $139,920 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is about $11,660 a month or $2,691 a week, running slightly above the national figure for the occupation.
- How much does a Physician Assistant make an hour in New Mexico?
- Typical hourly pay for a Physician Assistant in New Mexico is $67.27, according to May 2025 wage data. Entry-level positions start closer to $33.66 an hour, while the top 10% of earners make over $83.12 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physician Assistant in New Mexico?
- Entry-level Physician Assistants in New Mexico typically start around $33.66 an hour, or about $70,010 a year. Pay rises with clinical experience, moving toward the statewide typical figure of $139,920 a year within a few years on the job.
- Which city in New Mexico pays Physician Assistants the most?
- Farmington pays the most, with Physician Assistants typically earning $142,890 a year, followed by Las Cruces at $141,350 and Albuquerque at $139,920. Santa Fe pays the least at $127,730 a year. Albuquerque employs the most Physician Assistants in the state, with 380 working there.
- Is Physician Assistant pay in New Mexico higher than the national rate?
- Yes. Physician Assistants in New Mexico typically earn $139,920 a year, about 3% above the national figure of $135,880. That places New Mexico 14th among the 51 states tracked for this occupation, and above every one of its neighboring states.