How Much Does an RN Make in Albuquerque, NM in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Albuquerque, New Mexico earns $46.17 per hour, or $96,040 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,003 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,090, and the top 10% of earners make over $123,540.
That pay is 2% above the New Mexico figure of $94,340 and 2% below the national figure of $97,550. Albuquerque ranks 2nd of 4 metro areas in New Mexico for RN pay. About 10,290 RNs work in the Albuquerque area.
RN pay in Albuquerque at a glance
- Typical pay is $46.17 an hour, or $96,040 a year.
- That is 2% above the New Mexico figure, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,090; the top 10% make over $123,540.
- Typical pay rose +45% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for New Mexico as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Albuquerque?
Pay in Albuquerque runs from entry-level positions at around $38.51 an hour to more than $59.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the New Mexico and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Albuquerque
| Career stage | Albuquerque | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $80,090$38.51 an hour | $74,300$35.72 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $84,450$40.60 an hour | $80,960$38.92 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $96,040$46.17 an hour | $94,340$45.36 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $105,690$50.81 an hour | $102,750$49.40 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $123,540$59.39 an hour | $123,540$59.39 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Albuquerque area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Albuquerque
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Albuquerque area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Albuquerque was $66,430 a year. By 2025 it had reached $96,040, a change of +45%, compared with +46% for New Mexico over the same years.
How Albuquerque compares with other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe pays RNs the most in New Mexico at $100,790 a year, $4,750 more than Albuquerque. The lowest-paying area in the state is Farmington at $83,070.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Albuquerque | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $100,790 | $48.46 | +5% | 1,090 |
| 2 | Albuquerque | $96,040 | $46.17 | this city | 10,290 |
| 3 | Las Cruces | $83,310 | $40.05 | -13% | 1,280 |
| 4 | Farmington | $83,070 | $39.94 | -14% | 840 |
Every metro area in New Mexico with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · New Mexico typical pay $94,340
Is Albuquerque a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in Albuquerque sits close to the national figure: $96,040 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Albuquerque area, about 25 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Albuquerque, NM?
- A typical RN in Albuquerque earns $96,040 a year, or $46.17 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $80,090 and the top 10% earn over $123,540.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Albuquerque?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Albuquerque is $46.17. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.51, and the top 10% earn over $59.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Albuquerque?
- Entry-level RN positions in Albuquerque typically offer around $38.51 an hour, or $80,090 a year.
- Is RN pay in Albuquerque higher than in the rest of New Mexico?
- Albuquerque pay is 2% above the New Mexico figure of $94,340 a year, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state. Santa Fe pays the most in New Mexico at $100,790.