According to the United States Department of Labor, in 2014 registered nurses in New Mexico took home an average annual salary of $65,790. Yet, this salary pales in comparison to what MSN-educated nurses achieved that same year. In fact, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners were all ranked among the state’s top 40 highest paying occupations. Average annual salaries for these MSN-educated nurse professions were as follows:
- Nurse anesthetists $130,460
- Nurse midwives $95,900
- Nurse practitioners $100,490
The Impact of Experience on Salaries for APRNs and Other MSN-Educated Nurses in New Mexico
Most MSN-educated nurses discover early on that gaining relevant and diverse work experience over several years is usually the best way to become the highest paid practitioners in their field of specialization. In 2014, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions supported this connection between experience and salary by releasing the following statistics:
Nurse Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary
- Entry-level: $48,750
- Mid-career: $64,390
- Experienced: $75,600
Nurse Anesthetist
- Entry-level: $46,290
- Mid-career: $126,780
- Experienced: $172,540
Nurse Midwife
- Entry-level: $79,190
- Mid-career: $98,030
- Experienced: $104,260
Nurse Practitioner
- Entry-level: $70,250
- Mid-career: $96,580
- Experienced: $115,600
Even online job advertisements posted by New Mexico’s state government offer a wide salary range for MSN-educated nurses based upon experience. For example, in 2016 the Department of Health had a certified nurse practitioner position available in Anthony, NM that offered $50,897.60-$88,524.80 annually.
Certified Nurse-Midwife Salaries in New Mexico
Albuquerque stands out as New Mexico’s largest, metropolitan city. As such, the area employs a large number of MSN-educated nurses to service its large population. The United States Department of Labor reported that nurse midwives practicing in Albuquerque were paid an average annual salary of $96,930 in 2014. The following data table provides a more thorough analysis of nurse midwife salaries that year:
Salaries for New Mexico’s Nurse Practitioners
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor found that Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and the North and West Central nonmetropolitan areas were the highest paying locations in New Mexico for nurse practitioners. The nurse practitioners working in these regional divisions earned an average annual salary of over $100,000: