Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in New Mexico: $62,032 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across New Mexico's 17 metropolitan areas, the average median physical therapist assistant pay sits at $62,032/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-2021. Because New Mexico sits at BEA RPP 94.4 (6% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $65,712 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Santa Fe ($70,200), Rio Rancho ($66,440), Roswell ($63,323).
In New Mexico, the average median salary for physical therapist assistants in 2026 is projected to be $62,031, which is approximately 11.7% lower than the national median of $70,247. The salary range varies significantly across the state, with the highest paying position in Santa Fe at $72,116 and the lowest in Farmington at $55,577, illustrating a considerable gap driven primarily by local demand, cost of living discrepancies, and healthcare facility availability. New Mexico has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that impact the role of physical therapist assistants. These can influence job opportunities and salaries depending on the city and local healthcare needs. Overall, there will be about 662 physical therapist assistants employed across the state, with a projected growth rate of 2.73% annually, reflecting a steady demand driven by an aging population and increased awareness of rehabilitation services. The top five cities for salaries in 2026 are Santa Fe ($72,116), Rio Rancho ($68,254), Roswell ($65,052), Alamogordo ($64,516), and Hobbs ($64,481). These figures suggest that locations with a higher cost of living and greater healthcare infrastructure tend to offer better compensation for physical therapist assistants.
New Mexico Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Range
Overall salary range in New Mexico: $29,699 (lowest entry-level) to $96,155 (highest top earner)
New Mexico vs National Average
New Mexico physical therapist assistants earn 11.69% less than the national median ($-8,215/year difference).
New Mexico Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)
Physical Therapist Assistant salaries in New Mexico range from $37,184 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $85,353 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $62,032. The New Mexico median is $8,215 below the US national median of $70,247. The average hourly rate is $29.82/hr. Approximately 662 physical therapist assistants are employed across 17 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$55,936
2025 BLS Actual
$60,383
2026 Current Est.
$62,032
2019–2027 Growth
+13.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in New Mexico (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,936 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,649 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,466 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,969 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,953 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,854 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,383 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,032 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,725 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Mexico metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 8.0% from $55,936 (2019) to $60,383 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,725 by 2027 — a total increase of $7,789 (13.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Mexico metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.73% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New Mexico
Lowest Paying Cities in New Mexico
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmington | $55,577 |
| Taos | $61,005 |
| Los Alamos | $61,120 |
| Albuquerque | $61,248 |
| Los Lunas | $61,634 |
Best Value Cities for Physical Therapist Assistants in New Mexico
When adjusted for local cost of living, these New Mexico cities offer the most purchasing power for physical therapist assistants.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $72,116 | 98.767 | $73,016 |
| Rio Rancho | $68,254 | 94.4 | $72,303 |
| Las Cruces | $62,891 | 90.212 | $69,715 |
| Roswell | $65,052 | 94.4 | $68,911 |
| Alamogordo | $64,516 | 94.4 | $68,343 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in New Mexico
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $37,184 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $62,032 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $85,353 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New Mexico metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 17 Cities in New Mexico
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $72,116 |
| 2 | Rio Rancho | $68,254 |
| 3 | Roswell | $65,052 |
| 4 | Alamogordo | $64,516 |
| 5 | Hobbs | $64,481 |
| 6 | South Valley | $64,219 |
| 7 | Clovis | $62,973 |
| 8 | Las Cruces | $62,891 |
| 9 | Carlsbad | $62,875 |
| 10 | Deming | $61,873 |
| 11 | Gallup | $61,653 |
| 12 | Las Vegas | $61,644 |
| 13 | Los Lunas | $61,634 |
| 14 | Albuquerque | $61,248 |
| 15 | Los Alamos | $61,120 |
| 16 | Taos | $61,005 |
| 17 | Farmington | $55,577 |
More New Mexico Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore physical therapist assistant hourly pay in New Mexico cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced physical therapist assistants.
Explore More Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in New Mexico in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for physical therapist assistants in New Mexico?
How does New Mexico physical therapist assistant pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistant salary in New Mexico?
How many physical therapist assistants are employed in New Mexico?
Which New Mexico city offers the best value for physical therapist assistants?
Written by Jordan Lee, DPT
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Jordan works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 physical therapist assistant compensation across New Mexico. State averages are employment-weighted across 17 metro areas — larger metro areas with more physical therapist assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.73%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, DPT, a licensed physical therapist assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov