New Mexico · BLS OEWS May 2025
Plumber salary in New Mexico: $61,440 median, no degree required
Nobody's software update fixes a burst supply line. Plumbers in New Mexico pull a median of $61,440 a year, and the top end reaches $87,700. I have opened up enough walls in 20 years of remodeling to tell you plumbing work never runs out: old homes, new code, water heaters, repipes. It cannot be offshored and it is a long way from being automated. Training is a paid 4-to-5-year apprenticeship, so while the college route digs a $37,850 debt hole, an apprentice plumber in New Mexico is stacking paychecks. After 10 years the gap in our model is $248,343 in the plumber's favor.
Reviewed by Brad Zemke, third-generation tradesman, 20+ years in the field.
Plumber pay in New Mexico
BLS OEWS May 2025 · 2,830 employed
| Wage level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $36,160 | $17.38/hr |
| 25th percentile | $45,190 | $21.73/hr |
| Median wage | $61,440 | $29.54/hr |
| 75th percentile | $78,210 | $37.60/hr |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $87,700 | $42.16/hr |
The 10-year picture
Plumber vs college in New Mexico
- Plumber, 10 years in
- $569,784
- cumulative earnings minus training costs
- College path, 10 years in
- $321,441
- avg degree, $37,850 debt, $11,568 interest paid
- Head start
- $248,343
- trade path is in the black by year 1; college by year 6
Cumulative earnings net of education costs and loan interest; taxes and living costs excluded from both paths. Full math and sources on the methodology page.
The apprenticeship
How you get in
Expect a 4-to-5-year paid apprenticeship in New Mexico, through a UA local or an open shop, mixing on-the-job hours with classroom code training. Starting pay runs about half of journeyman scale with annual bumps. Many programs cost almost nothing; you are an employee, not a student.
Training cost in our model: $7,500. First-year pay near $30,720.
Licensing
What NM requires
Plumbing is licensed nearly everywhere, and New Mexico will require journeyman licensure after your apprenticeship, with a master plumber track above that. Licensed trades protect their wage floor. Verify hour counts and exam details with New Mexico's board.
FAQ
Plumber questions, answered straight
How much do plumbers make in New Mexico?
The median plumber wage in New Mexico is $61,440 a year ($29.54/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The top 10% earn $87,700 or more. Entry-level pay starts around $36,160.
Is becoming a plumber worth it compared to college in New Mexico?
On the 10-year math, yes. Our model puts a New Mexico plumber at $569,784 in cumulative net earnings after 10 years, versus $321,441 for the average bachelor's path. That is a $248,343 head start, mostly because you earn while you train instead of paying tuition for four years.
How many plumbers work in New Mexico?
BLS counts 2,830 employed plumbers in New Mexico as of the May 2025 OEWS survey.
Is plumbing hard on your body?
It is physical work, no way around that. Crawl spaces, lifting, awkward positions. That is part of why it pays $61,440 at the median in New Mexico. Smart plumbers move into supervision, inspection, or their own shop as they get older, and the license makes that path real.
Can plumbing be replaced by AI?
No. You cannot install a water heater over the internet. Trades that require hands on real buildings are the most automation-resistant jobs in the economy, which is exactly why a lot of Gen Z is looking at them.
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Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2152, 2,830 employed in New Mexico. ROI model assumptions and sources: methodology.