NM · Rio Rancho · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Pay for physical therapists in the Rio Rancho area centers on $48.46 per hour, or about $100,790 a year. The lower quarter earns under $38.28 and the upper quarter over $59.43. That ranks 146th of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 168th of 338 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in the Rio Rancho metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Rio Rancho.

Physical Therapist pay in Rio Rancho, NM

The metro median is in line with the New Mexico statewide median of $48.62 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 680 physical therapists employed in the Albuquerque metro area, 1.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.05).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$30.81$64,08037% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$38.28$79,62021% below U.S. median
Median$48.46$100,790in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$59.43$123,61022% above U.S. median
Top 10%$64.46$134,08033% above U.S. median

How Rio Rancho ranks

  • 146th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 168th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 3 New Mexico metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), 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 $48.46 median hour buys what $50.72 buys at the national price level, 4% 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.

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

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Estimate your Rio Rancho paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,745
  • Per year: $87,228
  • Per month: $7,269

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 physical therapist 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 Physical Therapist roles in New Mexico

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

All Physical Therapist 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 physical therapists.

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.

Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Albuquerque, NM13 mi$48.46/hr560,326
Santa Fe, NM48 mi$49.36/hr90,551
Las Cruces, NM204 mi$43.38/hr116,998
Pueblo, CO236 mi—111,166
Amarillo, TX275 mi$50.27/hr203,729
Flagstaff, AZ278 mi$49.71/hr77,539

Physical Therapist jobs in New Mexico · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New Mexico

DPT degree. 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 Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physical therapists make in Rio Rancho, NM?

Physical Therapists in the Albuquerque metro area have a median pay of $48.46 per hour, about $100,790 a year. The middle half earn between $38.28 and $59.43 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Rio Rancho a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?

Albuquerque ranks 168th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 146th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Where do physical therapists 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 physical therapist?

DPT degree. 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.

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 physical therapists 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 physical therapists? 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
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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 · PT near Rio Rancho, NM
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PT pay reportRio Rancho, NM · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • AccentCareClovis, NM · 2 postings$48.41/ hr$46–$51
  • Artesia General HospitalArtesia, NM · 1 wage offer$45.50/ hr$46–$46
  • Vibrantcare Rehabilitation Inc.Albuquerque, NM · 1 wage offer$39.39/ hr$33–$45
  • Vibrantcare Rehabilitation Inc.Los Lunas, NM · 1 wage offer$39.01/ hr$33–$45

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$26Median$31.02High$45

9 employer-reported wage offers for PT in federal filings in New Mexico, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 PT roles

  1. Physical Therapist, Home HealthPermanent
    $95k–$106k/ year
    AccentCare · Clovis, NM · posted 15 days ago
  2. Physical Therapist, Home Health PRNPer diem
    $95k–$106k/ year
    AccentCare · Clovis, NM · posted 15 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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