Physician Assistant Salary in Albuquerque, NM: $144,565 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Albuquerque, NM earns a median $144,565/year (≈ $69.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Albuquerque's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.5), that paycheck buys what $151,304 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.1% above the New Mexico state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the compensation for physician assistants significantly benefits from the first-assist billing model prevalent in surgical practices. The 2026 median annual salary for physician assistants in this city is projected to be $144,565, slightly exceeding the national average of $140,391. With a salary range that spans from $71,735 at the low end to $185,377 at the high end, these figures not only reflect a robust earning potential but also highlight the varying roles within the profession. This salary data is derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys and showcases the opportunity for physicians assistants in Albuquerque to achieve competitive compensation in a growing healthcare market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $71,735 | $34.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $109,767 | $52.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $144,565 | $69.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $158,328 | $76.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $185,377 | $89.12 |
Median Salary Position
2.97% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albuquerque
In Albuquerque, NM, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $113,642 (2026 est.). At $144,565, the local median is 2.97% above the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in Albuquerque: You'd be above the median
How Albuquerque Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Albuquerque median: $144,565/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Albuquerque Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Average | $132,507 | +9.10% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | +2.97% more |
Physician Assistants in Albuquerque, NM earn a median of $144,565 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.97% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 9.10% above the New Mexico state average of $132,507.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Albuquerque has a cost of living 4.45% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Albuquerque, NM has a cost-of-living index of 95.546 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $144,565 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $151,304 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.66% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$117,620
2025 BLS Actual
$139,920
2026 Current Est.
$144,565
2019–2027 Growth
+27.0%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Albuquerque (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $117,620 | Actual |
| 2020 | $121,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $129,510 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,000 | Actual |
| 2023 | $129,980 | Actual |
| 2024 | $135,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $139,920 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $144,565 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $149,365 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albuquerque metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 19.0% from $117,620 (2019) to $139,920 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $149,365 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,745 (26.99%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albuquerque metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $71,735 – $109,767 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $109,767 – $144,565 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $144,565 – $158,328 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $158,328 – $185,377 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Albuquerque
The job market in Albuquerque is strong, with about 380 physician assistants currently employed, signaling a steady demand for this profession. The cost-of-living index here stands at 95.546, indicating that residents generally face lower living expenses compared to the national average, which can enhance take-home purchasing power for PAs. Employers in the area, particularly hospital systems and surgical specialty practices in fields such as orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, tend to offer the most competitive salaries among physician assistant pay in Albuquerque, NM. Variation in compensation often hinges on specialty—surgical PAs typically earn more than those in primary care due to factors like case volume, call coverage, and RVU productivity bonuses. For those looking to maximize their earnings, pursuing specialized training or considering roles in high-demand areas can significantly impact overall compensation.
More salary data for Albuquerque, NM:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C
Career Analyst
Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $139,920 for physician assistantsin the Albuquerque metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov