Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in Rio Rancho, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Rio Rancho minimum wage: $12.00/hour | Living wage: $19.50/hour
Median household income in Rio Rancho is about $70,000. The applicable minimum wage is $12.00/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $19.50/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (Rio Rancho) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.00 | $24,960 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $19.50 | $40,560 |
| Median household income | $33.65 | $70,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
Rio Rancho is the third-largest city in New Mexico and a fast-growing suburb northwest of Albuquerque, home to a major Intel semiconductor fabrication campus along with healthcare, call centers, and residential growth on the high desert mesa.
| Local Metric | Rio Rancho (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 110,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Sandoval County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 91 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $19.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $39.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,100/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,350/month |
| Median home price | $330,000 |
| Median household income | $70,000/year |
| Combined Gross Receipts Tax rate | 7.94% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.85% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $70,000 salary in Rio Rancho is about $33.65/hour at full time.
Median household income in Rio Rancho is around $70,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 91 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $1,100/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in Rio Rancho is $12.00/hour, which is about $24,960/year at full time. Rio Rancho follows the New Mexico statewide minimum wage of $12.00/hour as the baseline for most employers.
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Sandoval County needs about $19.50/hour, roughly $40,560/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $70,000/year is about $33.65/hour, $5,833/month gross, and $2,692 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.