What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in New Mexico?

In New Mexico, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in New Mexico (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in New Mexico?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,440. Employment concentration in New Mexico is roughly 0.43 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in New Mexico?

New Mexico currently employs approximately 690 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico machinists earn a median annual wage of $59,440 ($28.58/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 1.2% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,440 ($28.58/hr)
25th percentile: $46,300 per year
75th percentile: $72,690 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $90,170 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,250 per year
Workers employed in New Mexico: 690
Versus national median: 1.2% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.43 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Mexico than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

New Mexico employs about 690 cnc machinists earning a median $59,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Mexico.

Compare CNC Machinist 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	Amarillo College	67.4	$2,136 in-state / $4,704 out-of-state	$50,015	32%	Yes*	222 mi
2	Seward County Community College	61.3	$4,032 in-state / $5,408 out-of-state	$53,375	50%	Yes*	326 mi
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3	Colorado Mesa University	56.7	$9,927 in-state / $25,124 out-of-state	$58,601	41%	Yes*	372 mi
4	Pima Community College	53.7	$2,442 in-state / $7,758 out-of-state	$50,345	28%	Yes*	341 mi
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5	Central New Mexico Community College	51.8	$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state	$48,652	31%	Yes*	82 mi
6	Odessa College	51.5	$2,688 in-state / $4,926 out-of-state	$53,686	37%	Yes*	248 mi
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7	Pueblo Community College	51.5	$5,049 in-state / $17,649 out-of-state	$49,179	31%	Yes*	282 mi
8	Pikes Peak State College	50.3	$4,510 in-state / $17,110 out-of-state	$48,538	21%	Yes*	315 mi
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9	GateWay Community College	49.9	$2,358 in-state / $8,958 out-of-state	$70,264	29%	Yes*	369 mi
10	Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College	49.2	$1,372 in-state / $3,268 out-of-state	$54,827	29%	Yes*	63 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 690 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,440 ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 29,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CNC Machinist in New Mexico, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New Mexico): $59,440 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in New Mexico

How to become a CNC Machinist in New Mexico? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cnc machinists in New Mexico.

How long does it take? Most paths into the cnc machinist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do cnc machinists earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in New Mexico is $59,440 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,250 and experienced professionals can earn $90,170 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in New Mexico

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Mexico training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in New Mexico that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to cnc machinists in New Mexico before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in New Mexico

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. New Mexico’s apprenticeship program is administered by the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
Address: 401 Broadway NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 841-8565
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), machinists 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	360	$58,120	$59,640	$38,820	$90,170
Farmington	60	$58,460	$61,960	$42,850	$112,100
Las Cruces	50	$45,370	$50,630	$30,100	$75,680

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 cnc machinists in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 690 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New Mexico? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New Mexico. You can also contact the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in New Mexico is $59,440, which is $3,290 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In New Mexico

Best Trade Schools in New Mexico (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Job-Seeker/Jobs-and-Careers/Apprenticeship/Current-Programs ↩︎

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)