NM · Albuquerque · Updated October 15, 2026

CDI Specialist jobs in Albuquerque, NM

CDI Specialists in the Albuquerque area earn a median of $20.35 per hour, about $42,330 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $19.01 and $29.40. That ranks 119th of 133 U.S. metro areas for CDI Specialist pay, and 116th of 129 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Albuquerque. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Albuquerque.

CDI Specialist pay in Albuquerque, NM

The metro median is 3% above the New Mexico statewide median of $19.83 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.36 per hour. BLS counts about 70 health information technologists and medical registrars employed in the Albuquerque metro area, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.73).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.96$37,36044% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$19.01$39,54041% below U.S. median
Median$20.35$42,33037% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$29.40$61,1509% below U.S. median
Top 10%$34.12$70,9705% above U.S. median

How Albuquerque ranks

  • 119th of 133 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 116th of 129 after adjusting for local prices

BLS does not publish a separate figure for CDI Specialist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars (SOC 29-9021), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Albuquerque

  • Overall prices in Albuquerque run 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.2).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.35 median hour buys what $21.30 buys at the national price level, 34% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Get the Albuquerque CDI Specialist pay report

Named employers near Albuquerque, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

Get my free pay report

Estimate your Albuquerque paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$733
  • Per year: $36,630
  • Per month: $3,052

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Albuquerque metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Hospitals in Albuquerque

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Albuquerque.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Lovelace Westside Hospital
Albuquerque, NM
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Lovelace Women's Hospital
Albuquerque, NM
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Va New Mexico Healthcare System
Albuquerque, NM
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Lovelace Medical Center
Albuquerque, NM
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
Presbyterian Hospital
Albuquerque, NM
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unm Hospital
Albuquerque, NM
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Central Desert Behavioral Health Hospital
Albuquerque, NM
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Haven Behavioral Hospital Of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

CDI Specialist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rio Rancho, NM13 mi$20.35/hr112,524
Santa Fe, NM54 mi$19.83/hr90,551
Las Cruces, NM192 mi$19.83/hr116,998
Amarillo, TX272 mi$37.53/hr203,729
Flagstaff, AZ281 mi$23.59/hr77,539
Lubbock, TX292 mi$39.25/hr272,086

CDI Specialist jobs in New Mexico · CDI Specialist jobs nationwide

What employers ask for, and tax basics in New Mexico

Clinical documentation integrity specialists review charts and query clinicians so records reflect patient severity accurately.

  • CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one
  • Clinical background such as RN, or coding experience
  • Knowledge of DRGs and quality reporting

New Mexico taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

New Mexico state guide

Other healthcare roles in Albuquerque

Albuquerque city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do CDI Specialists make in Albuquerque, NM?

CDI Specialists in the Albuquerque metro area have a median pay of $20.35 per hour, about $42,330 a year. The middle half earn between $19.01 and $29.40 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Albuquerque a good place for CDI Specialists once cost of living is counted?

Albuquerque ranks 116th of 129 metro areas for CDI Specialist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 119th of 133 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Where do CDI Specialists work in Albuquerque?

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Albuquerque, led by Lovelace Westside Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Albuquerque as a CDI Specialist?

CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Does Valorem Health place CDI Specialists in Albuquerque?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Albuquerque and across New Mexico. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Albuquerque.

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Albuquerque pay CDI Specialists? Get the report.

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

20+ CDI Specialist roles in New Mexico, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · CDI near Albuquerque, NM
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CDI pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your New Mexico list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 1 posting$84.65/ hr$72–$97
  • Emanate HealthWest Covina, CA · 1 posting$63.17/ hr$50–$77
  • San Antonio Regional HospitalUpland, CA · 1 posting$59.87/ hr$48–$72
  • Boston Medical CenterRemote, MA · 1 posting$56.69/ hr$38–$75

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your New Mexico list

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$53.93High$76

8 CDI postings with published pay in the US, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open CDI roles

Open CDI roles near Albuquerque, NM, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

Request open roles

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay