NM · Santa Fe · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Santa Fe, NM

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Santa Fe area earn a median of $19.96 per hour, about $41,510 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.72 and $22.35. That ranks 95th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 125th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe. The free report below lists employers near Santa Fe and what they pay.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Santa Fe

1 more open role from employers in Santa Fe. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Santa Fe, NM

The metro median is 12% above the New Mexico statewide median of $17.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 340 nursing assistants employed in the Santa Fe metro area, 5.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.61).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$14.99$31,18021% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.72$36,8607% below U.S. median
Median$19.96$41,5105% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.35$46,49018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$24.74$51,46030% above U.S. median

How Santa Fe ranks

  • 95th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 125th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 3 New Mexico metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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

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What your pay buys in Santa Fe

  • Overall prices in Santa Fe run 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $19.96 median hour buys what $20.21 buys at the national price level, 6% above 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.

Estimate your Santa Fe paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$719
  • Per year: $35,928
  • Per month: $2,994

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

Travel assignment per diem in Santa Fe

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$155
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,645
13-week assignment$21,385

Travel certified nursing assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in New Mexico

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Fe as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Nursing Assistant 5A

Veterans Health Administration · Albuquerque, NM

$38k–$62k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888975700
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 6 days ago

Nursing Assistant 5D

Veterans Health Administration · Albuquerque, NM

$38k–$62k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888189100
New this week
View role

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in New Mexico

Hospitals in Santa Fe

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center
Santa Fe, NM
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center
Santa Fe, NM
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Santa Fe Phs Indian Hospital
Santa Fe, NM
Acute careGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Santa Fe County

HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Fe County (1 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 23 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rio Rancho, NM48 mi$17.87/hr112,524
Albuquerque, NM54 mi$17.87/hr560,326
Pueblo, CO195 mi—111,166
Amarillo, TX236 mi$17.32/hr203,729
Lubbock, TX274 mi$15.38/hr272,086
Flagstaff, AZ319 mi$19.92/hr77,539

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in New Mexico · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New Mexico

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. 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.

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

New Mexico state guide

Other healthcare roles in Santa Fe

Santa Fe city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Santa Fe, NM?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Santa Fe metro area have a median pay of $19.96 per hour, about $41,510 a year. The middle half earn between $17.72 and $22.35 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Santa Fe a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?

Santa Fe ranks 125th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 95th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Santa Fe?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe, led by Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Santa Fe as a certified nursing assistant?

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. 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.

Is Santa Fe in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Fe County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Santa Fe?

The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Fe is $155 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,645 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place certified nursing assistants in Santa Fe?

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

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What do employers near Santa Fe pay certified nursing assistants? 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

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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 · CNA near Santa Fe, NM
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Veterans Health AdministrationAlbuquerque, NM · 2 postings$24.19/ hr$18–$30
  • Westways Staffing Services, Inc.Albuquerque, NM · 1 wage offer$14.20/ hr$14–$14
  • CommonSpirit HealthBURIEN, WA · 7 postings$31.52/ hr$23–$41
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your New Mexico list

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$22.88High$30

1426 CNA postings with published pay in the US, 1213 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 CNA roles

  1. Nursing Assistant 5APermanent
    $38k–$62k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Albuquerque, NM · posted today
  2. Nursing Assistant 5DPermanent
    $38k–$62k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Albuquerque, NM · posted 6 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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