Highest-paying trades in New Mexico
Updated September 27, 2026
Boilermakers are the highest-paying skilled trade in New Mexico, with a median of $101,200 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 49 of the 73 trades ranked here pay more than the $47,210 median for all jobs in New Mexico.
All 73 trades by median pay in New Mexico
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boilermakers300 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $101,200$48.66/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay140 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $100,410$48.27/hr |
| 3 | Avionics technicians+14% vs U.S. | $94,020$45.20/hr |
| 4 | Millwrights60 jobs · +37% vs U.S. | $90,230$43.38/hr |
| 5 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians860 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $84,440$40.60/hr |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment30 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $83,470$40.13/hr |
| 7 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators80 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $83,370$40.08/hr |
| 8 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment420 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $80,590$38.74/hr |
| 9 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other100 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $78,060$37.53/hr |
| 10 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,020 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $76,470$36.76/hr |
| 11 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers110 jobs · −35% vs U.S. | $71,430$34.34/hr |
| 12 | Rail car repairers120 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $67,550$32.47/hr |
| 13 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door320 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $67,520$32.46/hr |
| 14 | Construction and building inspectors800 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $65,420$31.45/hr |
| 15 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers100 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $65,110$31.30/hr |
| 16 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines1,470 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $63,630$30.59/hr |
| 17 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,100 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $63,600$30.58/hr |
| 18 | Medical equipment repairers200 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $62,640$30.12/hr |
| 19 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters2,830 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,440$29.54/hr |
| 20 | Industrial machinery mechanics2,780 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $60,670$29.17/hr |
| 21 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers2,390 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $59,840$28.77/hr |
| 22 | Carpenters3,630 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $59,720$28.71/hr |
| 23 | Electricians5,020 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $58,390$28.07/hr |
| 24 | Security and fire alarm systems installers630 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $58,350$28.05/hr |
| 25 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers350 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $58,130$27.95/hr |
| 26 | Wind turbine service technicians330 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $57,230$27.51/hr |
| 27 | Sheet metal workers640 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $56,720$27.27/hr |
| 28 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists1,740 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $55,910$26.88/hr |
| 29 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers260 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $54,080$26.00/hr |
| 30 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers580 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $53,900$25.91/hr |
| 31 | Hazardous materials removal workers680 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $53,440$25.69/hr |
| 32 | Insulation workers, mechanical−9% vs U.S. | $53,120$25.54/hr |
| 33 | Carpet installers60 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $52,700$25.34/hr |
| 34 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators5,520 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $52,000$25.00/hr |
| 35 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers1,950 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $50,270$24.17/hr |
| 36 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other500 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $50,010$24.04/hr |
| 37 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers420 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $49,930$24.01/hr |
| 38 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians120 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,920$24.00/hr |
| 39 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles200 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,790$23.94/hr |
| 40 | Recreational vehicle service technicians150 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $49,720$23.91/hr |
| 41 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles160 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $49,300$23.70/hr |
| 42 | Cement masons and concrete finishers1,540 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $49,230$23.67/hr |
| 43 | Solar photovoltaic installers340 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $48,490$23.31/hr |
| 44 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall250 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,460$23.30/hr |
| 45 | Tapers60 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $48,320$23.23/hr |
| 46 | Automotive body and related repairers810 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $48,260$23.20/hr |
| 47 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers50 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $47,960$23.06/hr |
| 48 | Highway maintenance workers1,470 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,740$22.95/hr |
| 49 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics5,080 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $47,300$22.74/hr |
| 50 | Glaziers380 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,940$22.57/hr |
| 51 | Motorcycle mechanics70 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $46,610$22.41/hr |
| 52 | Painters, construction and maintenance1,010 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,240$22.23/hr |
| 53 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators990 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $45,880$22.06/hr |
| 54 | Maintenance and repair workers, general9,320 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,760$22.00/hr |
| 55 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers110 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $45,580$21.92/hr |
| 56 | Pipelayers190 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $45,550$21.90/hr |
| 57 | Plasterers and stucco masons460 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $45,350$21.80/hr |
| 58 | Roofers1,160 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $45,300$21.78/hr |
| 59 | Brickmasons and blockmasons270 jobs · −28% vs U.S. | $44,980$21.63/hr |
| 60 | Tile and stone setters280 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $44,550$21.42/hr |
| 61 | Fence erectors270 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $44,450$21.37/hr |
| 62 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers240 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $43,860$21.09/hr |
| 63 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers330 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $43,330$20.83/hr |
| 64 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics110 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $42,520$20.44/hr |
| 65 | Locksmiths and safe repairers140 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $41,920$20.15/hr |
| 66 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners160 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $40,230$19.34/hr |
| 67 | Construction laborers12,470 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $38,400$18.46/hr |
| 68 | Automotive glass installers and repairers150 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $37,470$18.01/hr |
| 69 | Home appliance repairers150 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $37,440$18.00/hr |
| 70 | Riggers230 jobs · −40% vs U.S. | $37,440$18.00/hr |
| 71 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians−37% vs U.S. | $36,510$17.55/hr |
| 72 | Maintenance workers, machinery−40% vs U.S. | $36,240$17.42/hr |
| 73 | Tire repairers and changers1,190 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $31,640$15.21/hr |
Linked trades have full New Mexico pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in New Mexico, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a New Mexico median for 15 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in New Mexico?
- Boilermakers, with a median of $101,200 a year ($48.66 an hour) in New Mexico, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in New Mexico?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in New Mexico: boilermakers ($101,200), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($100,410).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in New Mexico?
- 49 of the 73 trades ranked here have a median above $47,210, the median for all occupations in New Mexico.
- Do trades pay more in New Mexico than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 15 of the 73 trades have a higher median in New Mexico than nationally. The biggest gap is millwrights: $90,230, 37% above the U.S. median of $65,700.
- Which trade employs the most people in New Mexico?
- Construction laborers, with about 12,470 jobs and a median of $38,400 a year.