Medical Records Specialists Salary
The median pay for a medical records specialists in New Mexico is $57,470/year ($27.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $61,756 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 29.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in New Mexico?
About medical records specialists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for medical records specialists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level medical records specialists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Records Specialists salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $62K | +8% | 90 |
| Albuquerque | $60K | +4% | 770 |
| Farmington | $55K | -5% | 90 |
| Las Cruces | $44K | -23% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track medical records specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical records specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical records specialists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical records specialists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,196/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical records specialist a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $57K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for medical records specialists?
New Mexico pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical records specialists make in New Mexico?
The median is $57,470 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,600, and experienced medical records specialists can clear $76,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,866/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a medical records specialists salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical records specialists salary is worth about $61,756 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical records specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.