How to Become a Plumber in New Mexico (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs about 2,830 plumbers earning a median $61,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most plumbers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Mexico.

Compare Plumber 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
160.8$2,358 in-state / $8,958 out-of-state$58,6569%Yes*325 mi
254.1$2,358 in-state / $8,958 out-of-state$68,59616%Yes*320 mi
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353.7$2,442 in-state / $7,758 out-of-state$50,34528%Yes*318 mi
451.8$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state$48,65231%Yes*2 mi
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549.9$2,358 in-state / $8,958 out-of-state$70,26429%Yes*320 mi
646.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*52 mi
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746.0$6,400 in-state / $14,328 out-of-state$61,77429%Yes*71 mi
843.0$4,346Not reported12%Yes*94 mi
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938.9$2,358 in-state / $8,958 out-of-state$53,52816%—329 mi
1036.2Contact school for pricing$50,09868%—319 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 2,830 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,440 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 44,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Plumber in New Mexico, including 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): $61,440 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in New Mexico

How to become a Plumber in New Mexico? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for plumbers in New Mexico.

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

What do plumbers earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for plumbers in New Mexico is $61,440 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,160 and experienced professionals can earn $87,700 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber 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 as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in New Mexico.
  4. Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in New Mexico, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the apprenticeship sponsor or state apprenticeship office.

Plumber 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]

Federal Prevailing Wage in New Mexico

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers 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 $43.07 per hour in base pay plus $16.60 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $59.67 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 4.

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 plumber work.

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque1,440$63,900$64,890$37,280$87,920
Farmington230$48,970$54,330$35,720$79,080
Las Cruces180$54,560$56,200$36,140$78,300
Santa Fe160$50,180$54,950$37,060$78,150

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 plumbers in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 2,830 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% 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 programs in New Mexico. You can also contact the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do plumbers earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in New Mexico is $61,440, which is $1,530 below the national median of $62,970 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. New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Job-Seeker/Jobs-and-Careers/Apprenticeship/Current-Programs ↩︎

  4. 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)