How to Become an Electrician in New Mexico (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs about 5,020 electricians earning a median $58,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most electricians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Mexico.

New Mexico employs approximately 5,020 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,390 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Electrician in New Mexico, including licensing 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): $58,390 per year 1
  • Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in New Mexico

How to become an Electrician in New Mexico? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and obtain any licenses or certifications required by New Mexico.

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

Do I need a license in New Mexico? Yes. New Mexico has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. See the licensing section below for details.

What do electricians earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for electricians in New Mexico is $58,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,650 and experienced professionals can earn $86,830 or more 1.

How to Become an Electrician 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. Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Pass the required examination and obtain the New Mexico electrician license before working unsupervised.

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

Electrician License Requirements in New Mexico

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Electricians

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
  • Exam: State exam required
  • Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 3.

Electrician 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 4.

Contact Information:

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

Federal Prevailing Wage in New Mexico

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in New Mexico earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent New Mexico general wage determinations show approximately $28.25 per hour in base pay plus $6.62 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $34.87 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 5.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within electrician work.

Electrician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Electricians Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque2,440$59,120$58,420$36,650$81,310
Las Cruces410$53,980$54,700$34,470$77,440
Farmington340$57,150$59,420$35,770$88,990
Santa Fe150$57,250$60,300$37,280$82,800

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 electricians in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 5,020 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as an electrician in New Mexico with an out-of-state license? Reciprocity varies. Contact the New Mexico licensing authority for details on transferring credentials.

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 electricians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in New Mexico is $58,390, which is $3,960 below the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.

In New Mexico

Top local programs

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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

  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. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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

  5. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)