Medical Assistant jobs in Santa Fe, NM
Pay for medical assistants in the Santa Fe area centers on $22.47 per hour, or about $46,740 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.70 and the upper quarter over $23.46. That ranks 68th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 56th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Fe.
- $22.47median pay per hour, Santa Fe
- $19–$23typical range per hour
- 420medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 99cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Santa Fe, NM
The metro median is 20% above the New Mexico statewide median of $18.75 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 420 medical assistants employed in the Santa Fe metro area, 6.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.33).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.99 | $37,420 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.70 | $38,900 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.47 | $46,740 | 6% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.46 | $48,800 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $25.34 | $52,710 | 19% above U.S. median |
How Santa Fe ranks
- 68th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 56th of 339 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, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
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 $22.47 median hour buys what $22.75 buys at the national price level, 7% 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.
Get the Santa Fe Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Santa Fe, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Fe paycheck
- Per year: $40,446
- Per month: $3,370
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
| Item | Federal 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 medical 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).
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 medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center Santa Fe, NM | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center Santa Fe, NM | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Fe Phs Indian Hospital Santa Fe, NM | Acute care | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
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.
Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho, NM | 48 mi | $19.91/hr | 112,524 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 54 mi | $19.91/hr | 560,326 |
| Pueblo, CO | 195 mi | — | 111,166 |
| Amarillo, TX | 236 mi | $17.96/hr | 203,729 |
| Lubbock, TX | 274 mi | $17.35/hr | 272,086 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 319 mi | $21.35/hr | 77,539 |
Medical Assistant jobs in New Mexico · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in New Mexico
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. 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.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Fe
Santa Fe city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Santa Fe, NM?
Medical Assistants in the Santa Fe metro area have a median pay of $22.47 per hour, about $46,740 a year. The middle half earn between $18.70 and $23.46 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Fe a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Santa Fe ranks 56th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 68th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical 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 medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. 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 medical 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.
What do employers near Santa Fe pay medical 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.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles 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+ Medical Assistant 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.
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your New Mexico list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your New Mexico list
2What they are offering now
1193 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 1009 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Medical Assistant roles
Open Medical Assistant roles near Santa Fe, NM, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.