BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in New Mexico
On mechanic pay, New Mexico is 42nd of 50, well down the table. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $47,300 a year, $3,320 below the national median of $50,620, and 5,080 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. The wider gap is between trades: aircraft mechanics reach $84,440, 79 percent over automotive technicians.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 42nd of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $47,300 against $50,620 nationally.
- $84,440 for aircraft mechanics, 79 percent ahead of automotive technicians.
- 5.8 per 1,000 jobs are technician jobs, 5,080 in all (location quotient 1.29).
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $37,140 in New Mexico
Aircraft mechanics reach $84,440 across 860 jobs, $37,140 more than the $47,300 automotive median. That leaves automotive technicians last among 5 trades.
| Trade | New Mexico median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $84,440 | $79,870 | 11th | 860 | Albuquerque, NM, $78,730 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $63,630 | $65,510 | 34th | 1,470 | Farmington, NM, $79,730 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $55,910 | $61,770 | 44th | 1,740 | Albuquerque, NM, $59,140 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $48,260 | $54,890 | 45th | 810 | Albuquerque, NM, $49,020 |
| Auto Mechanic | $47,300 | $50,620 | 42nd | 5,080 | Santa Fe, NM, $55,640 |
Aircraft mechanics ($84,440, +$4,570) earns more than its counterparts nationwide.
Diesel mechanics ($55,910, -$5,860) and collision repair technicians ($48,260, -$6,630) fall short of their national medians.
Near their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($63,630, -$1,880).
Collision repair technicians rank 45th of 50 at $48,260, the trade that trails other states most.
Albuquerque, NM is the best metro for aircraft mechanics here, at $78,730.
5,080 Mechanics Work in New Mexico, a Dense Market
The technician share is 5.8 per 1,000 jobs, 29 percent ahead of the national rate, a location quotient of 1.29. The state is 5th of 50 on concentration.
Heavy equipment mechanics rank first on concentration at 1.49 on 1,470 jobs, and collision repair technicians the least at 0.97.
7 Ranked Mechanic Programs in New Mexico
Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM tops a field of 7 ranked programs (5 automotive and 2 aviation maintenance) with 59.1 out of 100 in automotive, spread over 6 schools.
Prices start at $1,592 annually, in-district (Clovis Community College, Clovis, NM) and hit $2,322 per year, in-district (New Mexico State University-Dona Ana, Las Cruces, NM) across 7 priced programs.
Central New Mexico Community College sits in Albuquerque, NM, the best-paying area for mechanics at $48,820.
- Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM, automotive, score 59.1, #95 of 415
- San Juan College Farmington, NM, automotive, score 58.3, #106 of 415
- Clovis Community College Clovis, NM, automotive, score 48.6, #250 of 415
- Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus Roswell, NM, aviation maintenance, score 46.7, #105 of 148
- Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NM, automotive, score 46.2, #292 of 415
- Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM, aviation maintenance, score 43.8, #114 of 148
- New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Las Cruces, NM, automotive, score 36.9, #395 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in New Mexico, with 7 programs ranked in the state
Mechanic Salary in New Mexico Trails the National Median by $3,320
The pay floor of $30,390 runs $4,270 behind national pay and the ceiling of $77,850 runs $3,940 behind national pay. The $47,460 spread from the 10th percentile to the 90th comes close to the national gap. New Mexico ranks 43rd of 50 states at the 10th percentile.
| Measure | New Mexico | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,390 | $34,660 | -$4,270 |
| 25th percentile | $36,500 | $38,900 | -$2,400 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,300 | $50,620 | -$3,320 |
| 75th percentile | $63,050 | $70,430 | -$7,380 |
| 90th percentile | $77,850 | $81,790 | -$3,940 |
| Mean | $51,790 | $56,420 | -$4,630 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 5,080 | 704,640 |
The 25th and 75th percentiles are $36,500 and $63,050; both edges sit under the national ones (-$2,400, -$7,380).
At $51,790, the mean sits $4,490 above the median, lifted by top earners.
The 10th percentile figure of $30,390 says where the bottom tenth ends, not what a beginner is paid.
Mechanic Salary in New Mexico by Area
Albuquerque, NM anchors the state's metropolitan pay data with 2,320 jobs (46 percent of the state's 5,080 jobs) at $48,820, $1,520 more than the state's $47,300 median; 3 other areas follow it.
Rural pay sits below the state median of $47,300: 2 nonmetropolitan areas, 1,550 jobs, $41,690 to $45,270.
| Area | Median | Against New Mexico | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $48,820 | +$1,520 | $31,190 to $79,240 | 2,320 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $45,690 | -$1,610 | $29,030 to $73,890 | 420 |
| Farmington, NM | $46,660 | -$640 | $29,220 to $75,510 | 400 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $55,640 | +$8,340 | $35,500 to $92,130 | 370 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $45,270 | -$2,030 | $29,570 to $76,130 | 1,070 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $41,690 | -$5,610 | $29,090 to $77,150 | 480 |
New Mexico Between Kansas and Utah on Mechanic Pay
Kansas sits closest, $47,790 ($490 more); Utah follows below at $46,570, $730 lower.
19 other states fall within $2,500 of $47,300, and 8 of them within $1,000. Rank changes fast in this stretch.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in New Mexico
What is a typical mechanic salary in New Mexico?
$47,300 at the median ($22.74 an hour), $3,320 below the nation. The 10th percentile is $30,390 and the 90th $77,850.
What is the pay gap between aircraft mechanics and auto mechanics in New Mexico?
A premium of $37,140: $84,440 for aircraft mechanics versus $47,300 for automotive technicians, on 860 jobs.
Which mechanic school in New Mexico ranks highest?
The top score belongs to Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM, scoring 59.1 among 7 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in New Mexico for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in New Mexico
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.