Carpenter salary in New Mexico
Median $28.71 an hour for 3,630 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 25th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 15th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.14). 3,630 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.28 – $22.67 | $40,100 – $47,150 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.67 – $30.44 | $47,150 – $63,310 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $30.44 – $37.40 | $63,310 – $77,790 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $20.00 | $28.89 | $30.25 | $38.20 | 1,940 | 1% above |
| Farmington | $20.40 | $28.71 | $32.74 | $34.55 | 390 | about the same as |
| Santa Fe | $21.79 | $28.57 | $28.92 | $40.89 | 210 | about the same as |
| Las Cruces | $17.60 | $27.42 | $30.40 | $34.09 | 250 | 4% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Carpenter wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.50 | $24.16 | $15.35 | 6,300 |
| 2000 | $13.47 | $25.18 | $15.69 | 5,750 |
| 2001 | $13.86 | $25.20 | $16.09 | 5,530 |
| 2002 | $14.38 | $25.73 | $16.44 | 5,440 |
| 2003 | $15.19 | $26.58 | $16.47 | 5,300 |
| 2004 | $12.94 | $22.05 | $16.78 | 5,730 |
| 2005 | $13.24 | $21.83 | $17.11 | 7,410 |
| 2006 | $13.79 | $22.02 | $17.57 | 7,480 |
| 2007 | $14.96 | $23.23 | $18.11 | 6,390 |
| 2008 | $15.05 | $22.50 | $18.72 | 5,750 |
| 2009 | $16.11 | $24.18 | $18.98 | 4,740 |
| 2010 | $16.87 | $24.91 | $19.00 | 4,290 |
| 2011 | $17.86 | $25.56 | $19.24 | 3,900 |
| 2012 | $17.26 | $24.20 | $19.20 | 3,520 |
| 2013 | $17.02 | $23.52 | $19.47 | 3,440 |
| 2014 | $17.22 | $23.42 | $19.63 | 3,350 |
| 2015 | $17.47 | $23.73 | $20.24 | 3,390 |
| 2016 | $17.59 | $23.60 | $20.96 | 3,770 |
| 2017 | $17.78 | $23.35 | $21.71 | 4,280 |
| 2018 | $18.21 | $23.35 | $22.40 | 4,110 |
| 2019 | $18.48 | $23.27 | $23.24 | 3,730 |
| 2020 | $19.13 | $23.80 | $23.81 | 3,220 |
| 2021 | $21.57 | $25.63 | $23.20 | 3,250 |
| 2022 | $21.30 | $23.43 | $24.71 | 3,020 |
| 2023 | $22.59 | $23.87 | $27.09 | 3,290 |
| 2024 | $25.00 | $25.66 | $28.51 | 3,220 |
| 2025 | $28.71 | $28.71 | $29.12 | 3,630 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in New Mexico changed by +21.0% over the last ten years of data and by +23.4% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in New Mexico?
Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in New Mexico has changed by -42.4%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -2.7%.
Table
| Year | New Mexico jobs | New Mexico index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 6,300 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,750 | 91 | 111 |
| 2001 | 5,530 | 88 | 110 |
| 2002 | 5,440 | 86 | 111 |
| 2003 | 5,300 | 84 | 110 |
| 2004 | 5,730 | 91 | 114 |
| 2005 | 7,410 | 118 | 121 |
| 2006 | 7,480 | 119 | 128 |
| 2007 | 6,390 | 101 | 126 |
| 2008 | 5,750 | 91 | 117 |
| 2009 | 4,740 | 75 | 96 |
| 2010 | 4,290 | 68 | 80 |
| 2011 | 3,900 | 62 | 75 |
| 2012 | 3,520 | 56 | 74 |
| 2013 | 3,440 | 55 | 75 |
| 2014 | 3,350 | 53 | 80 |
| 2015 | 3,390 | 54 | 83 |
| 2016 | 3,770 | 60 | 88 |
| 2017 | 4,280 | 68 | 90 |
| 2018 | 4,110 | 65 | 93 |
| 2019 | 3,730 | 59 | 95 |
| 2020 | 3,220 | 51 | 91 |
| 2021 | 3,250 | 52 | 87 |
| 2022 | 3,020 | 48 | 90 |
| 2023 | 3,290 | 52 | 91 |
| 2024 | 3,220 | 51 | 90 |
| 2025 | 3,630 | 58 | 87 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for carpenters in New Mexico
New Mexico's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,380 to 4,660, with about 350 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,630 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Mexico labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 9 of the 33 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $34.87 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $27.46). 23 of the 33 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Catron County at $26.16). The market median for the state is $28.71.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaves | Union CARP1319-009 2025-01-01 | $29.09 | $16.20 | $45.29 | NM20260014 |
| San Juan | Union CARP1319-017 2025-01-01 | $29.09 | $16.20 | $45.29 | NM20260046 |
| Bernalillo | Union CARP1505-001 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260044 |
| Doña Ana | Union CARP1245-006 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260045 |
| Grant | Union CARP1245-005 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260019 |
| Los Alamos | Union CARP1353-007 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260022 |
| Sandoval | Union CARP1505-001 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260047 |
| Torrance | Union CARP1505-001 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260049 |
| Valencia | Union CARP1505-001 2018-06-01 | $24.08 | $10.79 | $34.87 | NM20260049 |
| Cibola | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260015 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260031 |
| McKinley | Survey SUNM2010-012 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260024 |
| Mora | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Survey SUNM2010-014 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260026 |
| San Miguel | Survey SUNM2010-016 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260028 |
| Taos | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Survey SUNM2010-018 2010-11-09 | $26.07 | $5.96 | $32.03 | NM20260030 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUNM2010-009 2010-11-09 | $27.11 | $0.35 | $27.46 | NM20260021 |
| Roosevelt | Survey SUNM2010-015 2010-11-09 | $27.11 | $0.35 | $27.46 | NM20260027 |
| Otero | Survey SUNM2010-013 2010-11-09 | $20.86 | $6.25 | $27.11 | NM20260025 |
| Santa Fe | Survey SUNM2016-005 2018-09-26 | $20.86 | $6.25 | $27.11 | NM20260048 |
| Catron | Survey SUNM2010-001 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.03 | $26.16 | NM20260013 |
| De Baca | Survey SUNM2010-005 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.03 | $26.16 | NM20260017 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.03 | $26.16 | NM20260032 |
| Sierra | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.03 | $26.16 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Survey SUNM2010-017 2010-11-09 | $22.13 | $4.03 | $26.16 | NM20260029 |
| Lea | Survey SUNM2010-008 2010-11-09 | $20.46 | $5.61 | $26.07 | NM20260020 |
| Eddy | Survey SUNM2010-006 2010-11-09 | $23.05 | $0.35 | $23.40 | NM20260018 |
| Luna | Survey SUNM2010-011 2010-11-09 | $20.86 | $1.30 | $22.16 | NM20260023 |
| Curry | Survey SUNM2010-004 2010-11-09 | $20.86 | $0.35 | $21.21 | NM20260016 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Mexico prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Mexico?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
More on New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in New Mexico?
The median carpenter in New Mexico earned $28.71 an hour ($59,720 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.67–$30.44; the top 10% earn more than $37.40.
Where does New Mexico rank for carpenter pay?
New Mexico ranks 25th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $28.71 an hour, and 15th after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 9 counties, with a typical package of $34.87 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 3,630 carpenters in New Mexico in May 2025, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.97; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in New Mexico?
The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in New Mexico went from 3,390 in 2015 to 3,630 in 2025, +7.1%, and -2.7% since 2019. New Mexico's labor market agency projects +6.6% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 4,380 to 4,660 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in New Mexico?
New Mexico projects about 350 openings a year for carpenters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 62,800 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 47-2031. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: New Mexico labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.