How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in New Mexico (2026)

New Mexico employs about 12,470 construction trades workers earning a median $38,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Mexico.

Compare Construction Trades Worker 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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
167.4$2,136 in-state / $4,704 out-of-state$50,01532%Yes*222 mi
254.6$2,256 in-state / $5,616 out-of-state$54,82732%Yes*89 mi
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354.1$4,608 in-state / $7,318 out-of-state$49,75855%Yes*211 mi
451.8$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state$48,65231%Yes*82 mi
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551.3$2,232 in-state / $10,320 out-of-state$62,40522%Yes*264 mi
649.2$1,372 in-state / $3,268 out-of-state$54,82729%Yes*63 mi
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748.7$2,322 in-state / $6,360 out-of-state$54,87419%Yes*152 mi
846.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*96 mi
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943.0$4,346Not reported12%Yes*175 mi
1042.7$2,136 in-state / $3,408 out-of-state$33,93742%—123 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 12,470 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,400 1. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 2.03x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker 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): $38,400 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in New Mexico

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in New Mexico? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in New Mexico.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker 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 construction trades workers earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in New Mexico is $38,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,840 and experienced professionals can earn $53,590 or more 1.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in New Mexico

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Mexico training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. 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.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers 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.

Construction Trades Worker 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]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in New Mexico vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque4,140$40,440$42,400$30,940$52,870
Farmington1,310$38,150$41,050$29,530$57,820
Las Cruces860$39,460$41,330$29,490$54,830
Santa Fe530$41,980$43,420$32,110$56,210

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 construction trades workers in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 12,470 construction trades workers 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% 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 construction trades workers earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in New Mexico is $38,400, which is $8,330 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data 1.

In New Mexico

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


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

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)