How to Become an HVAC Technician in New Mexico (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs about 1,950 hvac technicians earning a median $50,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an hvac technician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division credentialing requirements.

Compare HVAC Technician 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
154.6$2,256 in-state / $5,616 out-of-state$54,82732%Yes*172 mi
251.8$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state$48,65231%Yes*2 mi
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349.2Contact school for pricingNot reported72%—222 mi
448.7$2,322 in-state / $6,360 out-of-state$54,87419%Yes*194 mi
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546.6$1,592 in-state / $3,344 out-of-state$59,17134%Yes*203 mi
646.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*52 mi
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746.5$4,080 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state$39,71224%Yes*229 mi
846.0$6,400 in-state / $14,328 out-of-state$61,77429%Yes*71 mi
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942.7$2,136 in-state / $3,408 out-of-state$33,93742%—165 mi

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 1,950 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,270 1. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 40,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an HVAC Technician in New Mexico, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become an HVAC Technician in New Mexico

How to become an HVAC Technician in New Mexico? New Mexico requires credentials such as Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. The licensing authority is the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths into the hvac technician 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 hvac technicians. The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do hvac technicians earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in New Mexico is $50,270 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,380 and experienced professionals can earn $75,770 or more 1.

How to Become an HVAC Technician 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. Apply to the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division, pass the required examination, and obtain the hvac technician credential before working unsupervised in New Mexico.

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

HVAC Technician License Requirements in New Mexico

The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division oversees hvac technician licensing in New Mexico 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Additional Requirements

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

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

HVAC Technician 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 5.

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, hvac technicians 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 $22.01 per hour in base pay plus $9.65 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $31.66 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 6.

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 hvac technician work.

HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in New Mexico vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque1,000$57,110$56,800$38,190$75,770
Las Cruces240$49,650$52,540$35,880$72,310
Santa Fe150$49,360$54,400$39,300$73,860
Farmington110$52,040$54,200$36,630$73,790

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 hvac technicians in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 1,950 hvac technicians 1. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as an hvac technician in New Mexico with an out-of-state license? Contact the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division 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 programs in New Mexico. You can also contact the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do hvac technicians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in New Mexico is $50,270, which is $9,540 below the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data 1.

In New Mexico

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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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. New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Construction Industries Division - Licensing Information: https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/find-a-bureau/bureaus/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

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

  6. 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)