NM · Albuquerque · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Albuquerque, NM

Pay for surgical technologists in the Albuquerque area centers on $25.38 per hour, or about $52,780 a year. The lower quarter earns under $23.71 and the upper quarter over $30.82. That ranks 228th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 242nd of 261 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Albuquerque. The free report below lists employers near Albuquerque and what they pay.

More open Surgical Technologist roles in Albuquerque

2 more open roles from employers in Albuquerque. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 20 days ago

Surgical Tech OR

Ardent Health · Albuquerque, NM

Pay range with your report
  • Surgical Services Lovelace Westside Hosp
  • Req 142192
View role
PermanentPosted 23 days ago

Surgical Tech

Ardent Health · Albuquerque, NM

Pay range with your report
  • Surgical Services Lovelace Medical Ctr-D
  • Req 142064
View role

Surgical Technologist pay in Albuquerque, NM

The metro median is in line with the New Mexico statewide median of $25.38 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 330 surgical technologists employed in the Albuquerque metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.12).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$20.49$42,62032% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$23.71$49,32022% below U.S. median
Median$25.38$52,78016% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$30.82$64,1102% above U.S. median
Top 10%$35.64$74,13018% above U.S. median

How Albuquerque ranks

  • 228th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 242nd of 261 after adjusting for local prices

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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

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What your pay buys in Albuquerque

  • 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 $25.38 median hour buys what $26.56 buys at the national price level, 12% 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.

Estimate your Albuquerque paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$914
  • Per year: $45,684
  • Per month: $3,807

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 Albuquerque

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 surgical technologist 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 Albuquerque

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

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.

Surgical Technologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rio Rancho, NM13 mi$25.38/hr112,524
Santa Fe, NM54 mi$30.54/hr90,551
Las Cruces, NM192 mi$25.38/hr116,998
Amarillo, TX272 mi$24.99/hr203,729
Flagstaff, AZ281 mi$32.47/hr77,539
Lubbock, TX292 mi$28.19/hr272,086

Surgical Technologist jobs in New Mexico · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New Mexico

CST certification or completion of an accredited 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 Albuquerque

Albuquerque city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Albuquerque, NM?

Surgical Technologists in the Albuquerque metro area have a median pay of $25.38 per hour, about $52,780 a year. The middle half earn between $23.71 and $30.82 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Albuquerque a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?

Albuquerque ranks 242nd of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 228th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Where do surgical technologists work in Albuquerque?

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque as a surgical technologist?

CST certification or completion of an accredited 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.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Albuquerque?

The federal per diem benchmark in Albuquerque 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 surgical technologists in Albuquerque?

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

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What do employers near Albuquerque pay surgical technologists? 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 · Surg Tech near Albuquerque, NM
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Surg Tech 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 · 4 postings$48.62/ hr$31–$60
  • CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 10 postings$47.95/ hr$32–$62
  • Fairview Health ServicesBurnsville, MN · 6 postings$46.05/ hr$32–$54
  • NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 6 postings$44.62/ hr$33–$51

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

2What they are offering now

Low$24Median$37.24High$50

293 Surg Tech postings with published pay in the US, 229 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open Surg Tech roles

Open Surg Tech roles near Albuquerque, NM, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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