What to Pay an ICU Registered Nurse in Albuquerque, NM (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$94,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$82K–$108K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+4.1%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~32

Albuquerque metro average

To hire a ICU Registered Nurse in Albuquerque at market, plan on a base salary range of $82,000 to $108,000, with $94,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 32 days, expect to lead at $108K–$124K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. New Mexico does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your ICU RN pay range in Albuquerque

Three pay positions, modeled against current Albuquerque market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$71K–$82K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Albuquerque average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$89.2K–$99.6K

Default for most Albuquerque employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~32 days. A range width of ~30% (min $82,000 to max $108,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a ICU RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$102.4K–$124K

Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

ICU RN salary percentile distribution in Albuquerque, NM

Where the Albuquerque market actually sits for ICU RN base pay.

10th $71K

25th $82K

Median $94K

75th $108K

90th $124K

Most Albuquerque employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($94,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $82,000 and a max of $108,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

New Mexico pay transparency compliance for ICU RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a ICU RN in New Mexico.

Not required statewide. New Mexico has no statewide pay transparency law. Posting a range is optional — but roughly half of healthcare employers in the market now disclose ranges voluntarily, and candidates increasingly skip postings without one.

For a ICU RN role in Albuquerque, a compliant good-faith range looks like $82,000 to $108,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $82,000–$108,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

Top ICU RN employers in Albuquerque — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring ICU RNs in the Albuquerque metro and what they're posting.

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
UNM Health / UNM Hospital	Academic medical center / Level I trauma	$88K–$111K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Presbyterian Healthcare Services	Integrated health system	$88K–$111K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Lovelace Health System (Ardent)	Health system	$88K–$111K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
UNM Children's Hospital	Pediatric specialty	$88K–$111K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Sandoval Regional Medical Center	Hospital	$85K–$107K	Very common ($10K–$18K)

ICU RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Albuquerque

How hard is it to fill a ICU RN role in Albuquerque.

~32

Avg Days to Fill

~783

Active Postings

~752,000

Albuquerque ICU RN Workforce

Very tight

Supply : Demand

Albuquerque ICU RN market reflects broader RN supply constraints, with critical care specialty demand elevated by post-COVID staffing gaps.

Skill premiums ICU RN candidates command in Albuquerque, NM

Skill / Credential	Pay Premium	Demand Signal
CCRN	Required baseline	Standard
Cardiac subspecialty	+7–11%	Very high
Trauma / Level I experience	+6–10%	Very high
BSN (vs ADN)	+5–8%	Standard at Magnet hospitals

ICU RN total compensation in Albuquerque — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for ICU RNs in Albuquerque. "Prevalence" reflects share of Albuquerque disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Albuquerque Postings
Base salary	$94,000 (median)	100%
Shift differential	+16–24% premium	~94%
Sign-on bonus	$9K–$19K	~80%
CCRN certification pay	+8–12% on base	~72%
Overtime opportunity	$10K–$21K annualized	~94%
Estimated total comp benchmark	~$115K–$135K	—

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

ICU RN pay by setting in Albuquerque — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the ICU RN range splits by employer type in the Albuquerque metro.

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
MICU	$90,000	$81K–$103K	Very high
SICU	$94,000	$85K–$107K	Very high
Cardiac ICU (CICU)	$100,000	$88K–$113K	Very high
Neuro ICU	$98,000	$86K–$111K	Very high
PICU	$96,000	$86K–$109K	Very high

FAQ: hiring a ICU Registered Nurse in Albuquerque, NM

How much should I pay a ICU Registered Nurse in Albuquerque, NM?

Market median is $94,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $94,000 — typically $82,000 to $108,000. To lead the market, plan on $108K–$124K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a ICU RN job in New Mexico?

No statewide law requires a posted range in New Mexico. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $82,000–$108,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.

Is offering $84,000 competitive for a ICU RN in Albuquerque?

$84,000 falls below the Albuquerque market median of $94,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for ICU RNs in Albuquerque?

Roughly 80% of Albuquerque ICU RN postings include a sign-on bonus ($9K–$19K).

How long does it take to fill a ICU RN role in Albuquerque?

Average fill time is approximately 32 days in the Albuquerque metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($108K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($82K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for ICU RN talent in Albuquerque?

By Albuquerque-metro posting volume: UNM Health / UNM Hospital, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Lovelace Health System (Ardent), UNM Children's Hospital, Sandoval Regional Medical Center lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a ICU RN in Albuquerque?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for ICU RN in Albuquerque — for example, $82,000 to $108,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does New Mexico require ICU RN pay range disclosure for internal postings?

No. New Mexico has no pay transparency law covering internal or external postings. Note that remote roles open to candidates in states like Colorado or California may still trigger those states' disclosure requirements.

Related ICU RN pay benchmarks — New Mexico metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

ICU RN pay benchmark — Phoenix, AZ → ICU RN pay benchmark — Denver, CO → ICU RN pay benchmark — Tucson, AZ → All ICU RN pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Albuquerque

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.