Physician assistant salary in New Mexico
New Mexico physician assistants earn a median of $139,920 a year ($67.27 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 3% above the national median of $135,880, and ranks 14th of 51 states.
Median, New Mexico
$139,920
Mean $134,670
Middle half earns
$106,240 to $153,560
US: $120,670 to $163,980
Employed in New Mexico
700
0.78x the national concentration
Where New Mexico sits in the range
New Mexico
Statewide
United States
National
Albuquerque
Metro area
Las Cruces
Metro area
Santa Fe
Metro area
Farmington
Metro area
Physician assistant pay by percentile
Ten percent of New Mexico physician assistants earned less than $70,010 and ten percent earned more than $172,900, a spread of $102,890. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | New Mexico | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $70,010 | $99,380 | -29.6% |
| 25th | $106,240 | $120,670 | -12.0% |
| Median | $139,920 | $135,880 | +3.0% |
| 75th | $153,560 | $163,980 | -6.4% |
| 90th | $172,900 | $190,280 | -9.1% |
Physician assistant pay by metro area
BLS published PA pay for 4 metro areas that include part of New Mexico. Farmington, NM has the highest median at $142,890. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMmoderate precision | 380 | $139,920 | $106,240 to $153,240 |
| Las Cruces, NMlow precision | 100 | $141,350 | $93,190 to $141,710 |
| Santa Fe, NMlow precision | 50 | $127,730 | $106,640 to $158,710 |
| Farmington, NM | 50 | $142,890 | $128,410 to $154,910 |
How PA pay compares with other clinicians in New Mexico
| Occupation | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Physician assistant | $139,920 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $137,520 | $132,300 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $129,370 | $236,590 |
| Registered nurse | $94,340 | $97,550 |
The New Mexico PA workforce
BLS counts 700 physician assistants on New Mexico payrolls, or 0.81 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, less concentrated than in the country as a whole. The federal NPI registry, which also counts self-employed and part-time clinicians, lists 1,105 physician assistants with a New Mexico practice address, and 9 new PA NPIs there in the past twelve months.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $106,240, it sits in the bottom quarter of what New Mexico physician assistants earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $153,560, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about PA pay in New Mexico
How much does a PA make in New Mexico?
The median annual wage for physician assistants in New Mexico was $139,920 in May 2025, and the mean was $134,670, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $106,240 and $153,560.
What is the hourly rate for physician assistants in New Mexico?
The median hourly wage was $67.27 and the mean was $64.74. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do PAs earn the most in New Mexico?
Among New Mexico metro areas with published data, Farmington, NM had the highest median at $142,890, and Santa Fe, NM the lowest at $127,730.
How does New Mexico rank for PA pay?
New Mexico ranks 14th of 51 states (including DC) by median PA pay, 3% above the national median of $135,880. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many physician assistants work in New Mexico?
BLS estimated 700 physician assistants employed in New Mexico in May 2025. The federal NPI registry lists 1,105 with a New Mexico practice address.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1071, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
Book a free intro call with Max. Tell him what you are weighing, and he will tell you whether coaching would help, or whether you just need a few answers.