How to Become an Interior Designer in New Mexico (2026)

Q: How much do interior designers earn in New Mexico?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), interior designers in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,850. Employment concentration in New Mexico is roughly 0.23 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for interior designers in New Mexico?

New Mexico currently employs approximately 90 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico interior designers earn a median annual wage of $60,850 ($29.25/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 90 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.4% below the national median of $67,190 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,850 ($29.25/hr)
25th percentile: $47,990 per year
75th percentile: $72,800 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $90,540 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $41,480 per year
Workers employed in New Mexico: 90
Versus national median: -9.4% below the U.S. median of $67,190
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.23 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Mexico than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

New Mexico employs about 90 interior designers earning a median $60,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most interior designers train through an approved program before entering the field in New Mexico.

Compare Interior Designer 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. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus	54.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,827	30%	Yes*	89 mi
2	New Mexico State University-Grants	52.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,874	Not reported	Yes*	142 mi
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3	Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute	52.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,652	Not reported	Yes*	88 mi
4	New Mexico State University-Dona Ana	48.7	Contact school for pricing	$54,874	17%	Yes*	152 mi
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5	Santa Fe Community College	46.6	Contact school for pricing	$53,855	Not reported	Yes*	96 mi
6	El Paso Community College	46.5	Contact school for pricing	$39,712	23%	Yes*	177 mi
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7	Northern New Mexico College	46.0	Contact school for pricing	$61,774	Not reported	Yes*	123 mi
8	Luna Community College	43.4	Contact school for pricing	$38,111	33%	Yes*	96 mi
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9	Navajo Technical University	43.0	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	16%	Yes*	175 mi
10	University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus	42.2	Contact school for pricing	$59,818	Not reported	—	71 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 90 interior designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,850 ¹. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Interior Designer in New Mexico, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (New Mexico): $60,850 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Interior Designer in New Mexico

How to become an Interior Designer in New Mexico? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for interior designers in New Mexico.

How long does it take? interior designer training length in New Mexico varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do interior designers earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for interior designers in New Mexico is $60,850 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,480 and experienced professionals can earn $90,540 or more ¹.

How to Become an Interior Designer in New Mexico

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Mexico training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved interior designer program in New Mexico that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to interior designers 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.

Interior Designer Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Interior Designers Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), interior designers 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	40	$54,530	$62,270	$39,380	$77,610
Santa Fe	40	$72,800	$84,520	$53,960	$179,990

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 interior designers in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 90 interior designers ¹. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New Mexico? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New Mexico.

How much do interior designers earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for interior designers in New Mexico is $60,850, which is $2,640 below the national median of $63,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In New Mexico

Best Trade Schools in New Mexico (2026)

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

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)