Do automotive service technicians need a license in New Mexico?

No statewide license is required for automotive service technicians in New Mexico. Most employers expect industry certifications such as ASE or OEM certification.

How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in New Mexico (2026)

Q: How long does automotive service technician training take in New Mexico?

Most people become an Automotive Service Technician in New Mexico through a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Q: How much do automotive service technicians earn in New Mexico?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), automotive service technicians in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,300. Employment concentration in New Mexico is about 1.29 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for automotive service technicians in New Mexico?

New Mexico currently employs approximately 5,080 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a median annual wage of $47,300 ($22.74/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,080 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.6% below the national median of $50,620 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,300 ($22.74/hr)
25th percentile: $36,500 per year
75th percentile: $63,050 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $30,390 per year
Workers employed in New Mexico: 5,080
Versus national median: -6.6% below the U.S. median of $50,620
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.29 - this occupation is more concentrated in New Mexico than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

New Mexico employs about 5,080 automotive service technicians earning a median $47,300 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Automotive Service Technician here means completing a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Compare Automotive Service Technician Schools in New Mexico

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus	54.6	$2,256 in-state / $5,616 out-of-state	$54,827	32%	Yes*	89 mi
2	New Mexico State University-Grants	52.6	$2,136 in-state / $4,272 out-of-state	$54,874	26%	Yes*	142 mi
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3	Central New Mexico Community College	51.8	$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state	$48,652	31%	Yes*	82 mi
4	Western Technical College	49.2	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	72%	—	171 mi
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5	New Mexico State University-Dona Ana	48.7	$2,322 in-state / $6,360 out-of-state	$54,874	19%	Yes*	152 mi
6	Clovis Community College	46.6	$1,592 in-state / $3,344 out-of-state	$59,171	34%	Yes*	139 mi
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7	Santa Fe Community College	46.6	$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state	$53,855	23%	Yes*	96 mi
8	Luna Community College	43.4	$1,474 in-state / $3,418 out-of-state	$38,111	28%	Yes*	96 mi
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9	University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus	42.2	$1,878 in-state / $5,130 out-of-state	$59,818	21%	—	71 mi
10	New Mexico State University-Alamogordo	38.7	$2,616 in-state / $6,072 out-of-state	$54,874	14%	Yes*	94 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

New Mexico employs approximately 5,080 automotive service technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,300 ¹. The state’s concentration of automotive service technician jobs is 1.29x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, automotive service technician employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 70,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Automotive Service Technician in New Mexico, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade-school or community-college program in the specialty (find programs)
Typical timeline: a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship
Exam: ASE or OEM certification
Median wage (New Mexico): $47,300 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in New Mexico

How to become an Automotive Service Technician in New Mexico? Complete a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in New Mexico? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect ASE or OEM certification. See the licensing section below.

What do automotive service technicians earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for automotive service technicians in New Mexico is $47,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,390 and experienced professionals can earn $77,850 or more ¹.

How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in New Mexico

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a specialty program. Finish an automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program. Some union shops use apprenticeships; the default national path is a certificate plus ASE, not DAS as the only option.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials. Pass ASE tests or OEM training the employer requires. Some states add a separate smog or emissions credential; it is not the whole mechanic license.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Automotive Service Technician License Requirements in New Mexico

Most states do not license auto, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision techs as a statewide journeyman card. Employers expect ASE or OEM credentials. Some states add a smog or emissions credential.

Typical path

Complete a specialty program.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials.
Add a state smog or emissions credential only if that state and the job require one.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Automotive Service Technician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), automotive service technicians and mechanics wages in New Mexico vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Albuquerque	2,320	$48,820	$53,800	$31,190	$79,240
Las Cruces	420	$45,690	$49,580	$29,030	$73,890
Farmington	400	$46,660	$50,320	$29,220	$75,510
Santa Fe	370	$55,640	$58,000	$35,500	$92,130

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for automotive service technicians in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 5,080 automotive service technicians ¹. Nationally, automotive service technician employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New Mexico? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New Mexico.

How much do automotive service technicians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for automotive service technicians in New Mexico is $47,300, which is $2,370 below the national median of $49,670 according to BLS data ¹.

In New Mexico

Best Trade Schools in New Mexico (2026)

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)