"How long does it take to become a veterinary technician in New Mexico?"

"Most paths into the veterinary 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 veterinary technicians need a license in New Mexico?"

"Yes. New Mexico requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for veterinary technicians 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 A Veterinary Technician in New Mexico

Q: "How much do veterinary technicians earn in New Mexico?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $44,790. Employment concentration in New Mexico is about 1.23 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"New Mexico currently employs approximately 890 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $44,790 ($21.53/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 890 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.5% below the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $44,790 ($21.53/hr)
25th percentile: $37,370 per year
75th percentile: $47,360 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $56,870 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,350 per year
Workers employed in New Mexico: 890
Versus national median: -5.5% below the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.23 - this occupation is more 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 approximately 890 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,790 ¹. The state’s concentration of veterinary technician jobs is 1.23x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a veterinary technician in New Mexico, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in New Mexico

How do I become a veterinary technician in New Mexico? New Mexico requires credentials such as Registered Veterinary Technicians, Doctors of Veterinary Medicine. The licensing authority is the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine 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 veterinary technicians. The New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in New Mexico is $44,790 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,350 and experienced professionals can earn $56,870 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 Board of Veterinary Medicine
Median wage (New Mexico): $44,790 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in New Mexico

The New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine oversees veterinary technician licensing in New Mexico ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Registered Veterinary Technicians	Registered Veterinary Technicians
Doctors of Veterinary Medicine	License to practice veterinary medicine in the state of New Mexico.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: State exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), veterinary technologists and technicians 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	460	$46,650	$44,920	$34,900	$57,670
Santa Fe	130	$46,160	$46,230	$37,290	$57,390
Las Cruces	90	$38,070	$40,960	$30,700	$49,940

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 Veterinary technicians in New Mexico

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest veterinary technician 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	460	$46,650
Santa Fe	130	$46,160
Las Cruces	90	$38,070

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 890 veterinary technicians ¹. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a veterinary technician in New Mexico with an out-of-state license? Contact the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine 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 veterinary technicians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in New Mexico is $44,790, which is $1,190 below the national median of $45,980 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 Board of Veterinary Medicine - Licensing Information: https://www.bvm.nm.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)