NM · Rio Rancho · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Pay for licensed practical nurses in the Rio Rancho area centers on $26.16 per hour, or about $54,420 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.26 and the upper quarter over $31.68. That ranks 327th of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 325th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in the Rio Rancho metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Rio Rancho.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Rio Rancho, NM

The metro median is 10% below the New Mexico statewide median of $29.21 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 1,080 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Albuquerque metro area, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.65).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.26$37,98039% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.26$37,98039% below U.S. median
Median$26.16$54,42013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$31.68$65,8906% above U.S. median
Top 10%$36.76$76,46023% above U.S. median

How Rio Rancho ranks

  • 327th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 325th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 3 New Mexico metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Rio Rancho

  • 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 $26.16 median hour buys what $27.38 buys at the national price level, 9% 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.

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Estimate your Rio Rancho paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$942
  • Per year: $47,088
  • Per month: $3,924

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.

Travel assignment per diem in Rio Rancho

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$144
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,568
13-week assignment$20,384

Travel licensed practical nurse 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 Licensed Practical Nurse roles in New Mexico

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Rio Rancho as they open.

All Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in New Mexico

Hospitals in the Albuquerque area

CMS lists 8 hospitals in the Albuquerque area, 2 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.

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.

Primary care shortage areas in Bernalillo County

HRSA lists 11 active primary care shortage designations that include Bernalillo County (1 population-group, 10 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Albuquerque, NM13 mi$26.16/hr560,326
Santa Fe, NM48 mi$33.19/hr90,551
Las Cruces, NM204 mi$29.62/hr116,998
Amarillo, TX275 mi$28.37/hr203,729
Flagstaff, AZ278 mi$36.81/hr77,539
Lubbock, TX299 mi$27.33/hr272,086

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in New Mexico · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New Mexico

New Mexico is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a New Mexico license by endorsement.

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

New Mexico state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Rio Rancho, NM?

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Albuquerque metro area have a median pay of $26.16 per hour, about $54,420 a year. The middle half earn between $18.26 and $31.68 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Rio Rancho a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?

Albuquerque ranks 325th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 327th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Where do licensed practical nurses work in Rio Rancho?

CMS lists 8 hospitals in the Albuquerque area, 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 Rio Rancho as a licensed practical nurse?

New Mexico is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a New Mexico license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Rio Rancho in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 11 active primary care shortage designations that include Bernalillo 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 Rio Rancho?

The federal per diem benchmark in Rio Rancho is $144 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,568 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place licensed practical nurses in Rio Rancho?

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

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What do employers near Rio Rancho pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.

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  1. 1
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Pay report · LPN / LVN near Rio Rancho, NM
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 4 postings$47.83/ hr$32–$63
  • CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51
  • Boston Medical CenterMassachusetts · 3 postings$40.82/ hr$33–$48
  • Veterans Health AdministrationSan Francisco, CA · 8 postings$39.44/ hr$27–$57

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

2What they are offering now

Low$22Median$31.53High$42

855 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in the US, 720 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 LPN / LVN roles

  1. Licensed Vocational Nurse w/Recruitment-Relocation Incentive/EDRPPermanent
    $41k–$74k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Las Cruces, NM · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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