HR Assistant salary in Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque is the most expensive place in New Mexico to hire an HR assistant. The median is $50,480 a year1, 1.7% above the New Mexico statewide median of $49,650 and about level with the US median of $50,610. Nationally it ranks #121 of 384 areas. It is the largest market for the job in New Mexico: about 420 people, 68% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Albuquerque, NM. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Albuquerque against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $39,990 | $50,480 | $58,390 | |
| New Mexico | $38,100 | $49,650 | $59,650 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Albuquerque earns $43,680–$53,850. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $58,390, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.8 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($49,460) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,170 wide, between the figure for New Mexico ($9,980) and the US figure ($15,770).
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,990 | $3,332 | $19.23 | $51,600 |
| 25th percentile | $43,680 | $3,640 | $21.00 | $56,361 |
| Median | $50,480 | $4,207 | $24.27 | $65,135 |
| 75th percentile | $53,850 | $4,488 | $25.89 | $69,484 |
| 90th percentile | $58,390 | $4,866 | $28.07 | $75,342 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,370 over it, while the 25th sits $6,800 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,348 more a year with benefits. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,610 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Albuquerque, and the New Mexico statewide median of $49,650 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Albuquerque
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $14,655 to the $50,480 median and brings it to $65,135 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for HR assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Albuquerque
Of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between data entry specialists ($53,320) and bookkeepers ($49,660). Project Coordinator is the highest at $106,730.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +7.7% | 300 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +5.6% | 220 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 420 | |
| Bookkeeper | -1.6% | 3,440 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.3% | 2,480 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque (-0.3%), between medical administrative assistants (+3.0%) and administrative assistants (-1.2%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so, measured against the US, HR assistants cost more in Albuquerque than the area's general pay level would suggest. HR assistants hold 0.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Albuquerque, 0.6% across New Mexico and 0.6% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 4 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $43,120 in Las Cruces to $50,480 in Albuquerque, a gap of $7,360 a year. No other area in New Mexico has as many HR assistants, and all 3 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 420 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -7.2% | 30 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -10.7% | 70 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -14.6% | 50 |
Albuquerque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albuquerque is #44 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside New Mexico, Durham-Chapel Hill and Lansing-East Lansing pay just above Albuquerque and Redding and Davenport-Moline just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Albuquerque. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +3.3% | 400 | jobs | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | +0.1% | 120 | pay | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +0.1% | 150 | pay | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 420 | ||
| Redding, CA | -0.2% | 30 | pay | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -0.3% | 150 | pay | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | -3.2% | 400 | jobs | |
| Columbia, SC | -10.0% | 380 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Albuquerque, NM?
About $65,135 a year at the median, or $5,428 a month: $50,480 in pay plus about $14,655 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do HR assistants earn in Albuquerque?
The median was $50,480 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,990, the 90th $58,390, and the middle half earned $43,680 to $53,850.
Is Albuquerque the most expensive area in New Mexico for HR assistants?
Yes. Its median of $50,480 is the highest of 4 areas in New Mexico. The Northern New Mexico nonmetro area comes next at $46,850.
How many HR assistants work in Albuquerque?
BLS counts about 420 in the May 2025 survey. That is 68% of the New Mexico total of 620. No other area in New Mexico has as many.
Does an HR assistant cost more than a bookkeeper in Albuquerque?
Yes: $820 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,480 and $49,660.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.