"How long does it take to become an esthetician in New Mexico?"

"Most paths into the esthetician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do estheticians need a license in New Mexico?"

"Yes. New Mexico requires state-level licensing or registration for estheticians, administered by the New Mexico Regulation \u0026 Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for estheticians 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 An Esthetician in New Mexico

Q: "How much do estheticians earn in New Mexico?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,230. Employment concentration in New Mexico is roughly 0.90 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for estheticians in New Mexico?"

"New Mexico currently employs approximately 370 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs approximately 370 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,230 ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an esthetician in New Mexico, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Esthetician in New Mexico

How do I become an esthetician in New Mexico? New Mexico requires credentials such as Esthetician Instructor, Esthetician License, Manicurist/Esthetician Instructor. The licensing authority is the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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.

Do I need a license in New Mexico? Yes. New Mexico has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do estheticians earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for estheticians in New Mexico is $47,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,010 and experienced professionals can earn $90,770 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists
Median wage (New Mexico): $47,230 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Esthetician License Requirements in New Mexico

The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists oversees esthetician licensing in New Mexico ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Esthetician Instructor	Instructor License for Esthetician
Esthetician License	License to provide skin care treatments to face and body.
Manicurist/Esthetician Instructor	Instructor license for Manicurist/Estheticians
Manicurist/Esthetician License	License to apply nail extensions or products to the nails.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), skincare specialists 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	230	$41,070	$51,570	$30,600	$93,630
Santa Fe	40	$46,890	$51,460	$27,150	$78,840
Las Cruces	30	$47,230	$51,000	$28,520	$85,860

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 Estheticians in New Mexico

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Albuquerque	230	$41,070
Santa Fe	40	$46,890
Las Cruces	30	$47,230

Explore esthetician programs in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces.

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for estheticians in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 370 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an esthetician in New Mexico with an out-of-state license? Contact the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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.

How much do estheticians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in New Mexico is $47,230, which is $5,670 above the national median of $41,560 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

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 Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists - Licensing Information: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/barbers-and-cosmetologists-overview/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)