How to Become A Construction Trades Worker in New Mexico

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.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Construction Trades Worker in New Mexico

How do I 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 take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an 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.

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

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 (2025 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 2025.

Top Metros for Construction trades workers in New Mexico

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest construction trades worker employment within New Mexico according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Albuquerque4,140$40,440
Farmington1,310$38,150
Las Cruces860$39,460
Santa Fe530$41,980

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

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 accredited 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.

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)