NM · Rio Rancho · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Physician Assistants in the Rio Rancho area earn a median of $64.91 per hour, about $135,020 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $55.85 and $80.19. That ranks 89th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 87th of 301 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Rio Rancho and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Rio Rancho.

Open Physician Assistant roles near Rio Rancho

Roles in other cities of the Albuquerque area.

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Physician Assistant pay in Rio Rancho, NM

The metro median is 4% below the New Mexico statewide median of $67.30 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 360 physician assistants employed in the Albuquerque metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.88).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$42.24$87,86034% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$55.85$116,17013% below U.S. median
Median$64.91$135,0201% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$80.19$166,80025% above U.S. median
Top 10%$115+$239,200+79% above U.S. median

How Rio Rancho ranks

  • 89th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 87th of 301 after adjusting for local prices

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. 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 $64.91 median hour buys what $67.94 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 Rio Rancho paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,337
  • Per year: $116,838
  • Per month: $9,736

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 physician 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 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 physician assistants.

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.

Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Albuquerque, NM13 mi$64.91/hr560,326
Santa Fe, NM48 mi$67.63/hr90,551
Las Cruces, NM204 mi$67.30/hr116,998
Amarillo, TX275 mi$54.24/hr203,729
Flagstaff, AZ278 mi$67.73/hr77,539
Lubbock, TX299 mi$63.85/hr272,086

Physician Assistant jobs in New Mexico · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New Mexico

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. 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 physician assistants make in Rio Rancho, NM?

Physician Assistants in the Albuquerque metro area have a median pay of $64.91 per hour, about $135,020 a year. The middle half earn between $55.85 and $80.19 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Rio Rancho a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?

Albuquerque ranks 87th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 89th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Rio Rancho?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Albuquerque area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Rio Rancho.

Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Rio Rancho as a physician assistant?

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. 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 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 physician assistants 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 physician assistants? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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Pay report · PA near Rio Rancho, NM
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Genesis HealthcareAlbuquerque, NM · 2 postings$58.90/ hr$55–$62
  • Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$104.30/ hr$94–$115
  • Valley Children's HealthcareMadera, CA · 3 postings$103.69/ hr$75–$123
  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$100.70/ hr$86–$108

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

2What they are offering now

Low$49Median$70.67High$89

426 PA postings with published pay in the US, 356 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 PA roles

  1. Cardiac Care Physician AssistantPermanent
    $120k–$130k/ year
    Genesis Healthcare · Albuquerque, NM · posted 23 days ago
  2. Physician AssistantPermanent
    $55.29–$60.10/ hour
    Genesis Healthcare · Las Cruces, NM · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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