Registered Nurse Salary in Santa Fe, NM: $106,142 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Santa Fe, NM earns a median $106,142/year (≈ $51.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Santa Fe's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.8), that paycheck buys what $107,467 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.5% above the New Mexico state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Santa Fe, NM, the registered nurse salary in 2026 is projected to reach a median of $106,142, reflecting a 5.31% growth rate in the local market. This figure is notably higher than the national median of $102,730, indicating a competitive pay environment. Registered nurses in Santa Fe can expect to earn between $78,245 at the low end (P10) to $138,830 at the high end (P90), showcasing a diverse pay scale that allows for significant earning potential based on experience, specialization, and work hours. Salary differentials for nights and weekends contribute to this range, providing RNs an opportunity to enhance their earnings through shift differentials. The comprehensive data presented here is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, highlighting Santa Fe's promising landscape for nursing professionals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,245 | $37.62 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,185 | $40.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $106,142 | $51.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $138,830 | $66.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $138,830 | $66.75 |
Median Salary Position
3.32% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Fe
In Santa Fe, NM, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $60,585 (2026 est.). At $106,142, the local median is 3.32% above the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Fe: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Santa Fe Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Santa Fe median: $106,142/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Fe Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Average | $96,933 | +9.50% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | +3.32% more |
Registered Nurses in Santa Fe, NM earn a median of $106,142 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.32% higher than the national median of $102,730 and 9.50% above the New Mexico state average of $96,933.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Fe has a cost of living 1.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Fe, NM has a cost-of-living index of 98.767 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $106,142 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,467 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.25% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$75,270
2025 BLS Actual
$100,790
2026 Current Est.
$106,142
2019–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Santa Fe (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $75,270 | Actual |
| 2020 | $77,340 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,660 | Actual |
| 2023 | $90,690 | Actual |
| 2024 | $91,750 | Actual |
| 2025 | $100,790 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $106,142 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $111,778 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Fe metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.9% from $75,270 (2019) to $100,790 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $111,778 by 2027 — a total increase of $36,508 (48.50%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Fe 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 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $78,245 – $85,185 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,185 – $106,142 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $106,142 – $138,830 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $138,830 – $138,830 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Santa Fe
Local employment in registered nursing is quite robust, with approximately 1,090 RNs in the Santa Fe area, partially attributed to the presence of various healthcare facilities, including acute care hospitals and surgical specialty centers. Living in a city with a cost-of-living index of 98.767 allows nurses to leverage their income effectively; however, given that it's below the national average, the purchasing power of the registered nurse pay in Santa Fe NM can be more favorable than in many high-cost locales. The variance in salary among local employers can stem from several factors, including shift differentials of $3-$7 per hour for night shifts and additional incentives for specialties or charge nurse assignments. To maximize earnings, nurses should consider pursuing specialty certifications, applying for positions in higher-paying sectors, and seeking opportunities within Magnet-status hospitals, which tend to reward education and specialized training more generously.
More salary data for Santa Fe, NM:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $100,790 for registered nursesin the Santa Fe metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov