Locum Physician Compensation in New Mexico
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting. Compact state — multi-state license eligible.
New Mexico — Benchmark Rates by Specialty
Median hourly rates in $/hr. Region: Southwest.
| Specialty | Urban Hospital — MedianUrban Median | Rural / Critical Access — MedianRural Median |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $344/hr | $397/hr |
| Cardiology | $308/hr | $268/hr |
| Dermatology | $407/hr | $354/hr |
| Emergency Medicine | $275/hr | $298/hr |
| Family Medicine | $154/hr | $178/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $395/hr | $413/hr |
| General Surgery | $397/hr | $346/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $432/hr | $452/hr |
| Hospitalist | $203/hr | $234/hr |
| Internal Medicine | $159/hr | $180/hr |
| Neonatology | $212/hr | $253/hr |
| Neurology | $351/hr | $387/hr |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $284/hr | $320/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $510/hr | $443/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $300/hr | $314/hr |
| Pain Management | $367/hr | $383/hr |
| Pathology | $378/hr | $329/hr |
| Pediatrics | $160/hr | $177/hr |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $197/hr | $206/hr |
| Psychiatry | $215/hr | $266/hr |
| Radiology | $404/hr | $352/hr |
| Urology | $389/hr | $407/hr |
Highest-Paying Specialties in New Mexico
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgery | $415/hr |
| Neurology | $412/hr |
| Pain Management | $412/hr |
| Radiology | $404/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $395/hr |
New Mexico Market Overview
State income tax: 5.9% top marginal rate.
New Mexico has one of the largest physician shortages relative to its population in the Southwest. The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque is the sole academic medical center, serving as the safety net for the entire state. Rural communities, Pueblo tribal nations, Navajo Nation territory, and the border region with Mexico all have severe physician deficits across primary care, OB/GYN, and emergency medicine. Despite a lower cost of living, shortage premiums push locum rates meaningfully above state baseline figures in rural and tribal settings.
Licensing: New Mexico participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A compact license held in another state can be used in New Mexico without a separate NM license application.