Medical Assistant Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Medical Assistants in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $39,200 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,959 take-home, or $2,747 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical assistant salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,524
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,430
- Medicare (1.45%)$568
- New Mexico income tax$718
- Take-home pay$32,959
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Assistant pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,180 | $17.39 | $30,662 | $2,555 |
| 25th percentile | $37,270 | $17.92 | $31,491 | $2,624 |
| Median (50th) | $39,200 | $18.85 | $32,959 | $2,747 |
| 75th percentile | $46,480 | $22.35 | $38,495 | $3,208 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,900 | $23.03 | $39,575 | $3,298 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,200 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical assistant's $32,959 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,495 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Albuquerque, NM has 1.2× the national concentration of medical assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for medical assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #57 of 63 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | $51,595 | $46,427 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,970 | $49,400 | $46,311 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,940 | $49,378 | $44,717 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,590 | $40,625 | $41,908 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,790 | $47,807 | $41,351 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $56,240 | $43,277 | $41,052 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,570 | $42,369 | $40,420 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,300 | $37,387 | $40,399 |
| 57 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,200 | $32,959 | $34,495 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
About the job: medical assistants
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median medical assistant salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $39,200 a year, or about $18.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,270 and $46,480.
What is a medical assistant’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $39,200 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $32,959 a year ($2,747 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $718 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $45,690. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,495 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #57 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical assistant afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median medical assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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