Medical assistants in New Mexico earn between $34,600 at the 10th percentile and $47,850 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits at a median of $39,230, which is the most useful anchor for setting a competitive offer for a typical hire. If you are filling a role with specialized duties or significant experience requirements, budgeting toward the $45,970 to $47,850 range will keep your offer in line with what senior candidates expect.
Medical assistant salary in New Mexico (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in New Mexico is $41,490 per year. A small pool of high earners at the top of the market pulls that average upward, so the median of $39,230 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New Mexico employs 5,400 medical assistants, and the $2,260 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in New Mexico typically earn around $34,600, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $47,850 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in New Mexico, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $39,230 |
Average Annual Salary | $41,490 |
vs. National Average | 10.0% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 5,400 employed medical assistants across New Mexico.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in New Mexico
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $34,600 |
25th Percentile | $37,240 |
75th Percentile | $45,970 |
90th Percentile | $47,850 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in New Mexico can anchor offers near $34,600, while roles requiring more experience or specialization will need to reach toward $45,970 to $47,850 to attract qualified candidates. The roughly $13,000 spread across the distribution means that job title alone will not determine the right offer — seniority and scope of duties should drive where within this range you land.
Medical assistant salary by city in New Mexico
City | Average Annual Salary |
Santa Fe | $45,900 |
Albuquerque | $42,100 |
Farmington | $39,380 |
Las Cruces | $38,750 |
Employers hiring across multiple New Mexico locations should budget differently by market, since compensation expectations vary by more than $7,000 between the highest and lowest paying cities. Santa Fe averages $45,900 per year, while Las Cruces averages $38,750, meaning a single statewide pay band will likely underpay candidates in Santa Fe or overpay relative to market in Las Cruces. Albuquerque, as the state's largest labor market, sits close to the statewide mean at $42,100.
How New Mexico compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New Mexico | $41,490 | $39,230 |
Colorado | $49,490 | $48,400 |
Arizona | $45,790 | $45,940 |
Utah | $44,760 | $45,360 |
Nevada | $44,170 | $45,200 |
Texas | $41,240 | $39,520 |
New Mexico is a cost-effective market for medical assistant hiring relative to most of its regional neighbors, which gives employers here a real budget advantage when building clinical support teams. Colorado averages $49,490 and Arizona averages $45,790, both meaningfully above New Mexico's $41,490 mean. Texas is the closest comparable at $41,240, suggesting that employers competing for candidates who might consider either state should expect similar compensation expectations.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in New Mexico
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in New Mexico?
What is the average medical assistant salary in New Mexico?
The average medical assistant salary in New Mexico is $41,490 per year. That figure sits above the median of $39,230, which means a segment of higher-compensated roles is pulling the average up. For most hiring decisions, the median is the more practical benchmark to use when setting an initial offer.
How does New Mexico compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
New Mexico's average of $41,490 falls below most neighboring states, making it a relatively affordable market for employers hiring medical assistants. Colorado leads the region at $49,490, followed by Arizona at $45,790 and Utah at $44,760. Texas is the closest peer at $41,240, so employers in New Mexico are unlikely to face significant cross-border compensation pressure from that direction.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in New Mexico?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in New Mexico earn $47,850 per year. Employers competing for senior or specialized candidates should expect to budget at or above this level to remain competitive. The statewide average of $41,490 sits well below this threshold, so top-tier candidates will require offers that reflect their experience rather than the broader market average.
Medical Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 31-9092 (Medical Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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