Drywall installer salary in New Mexico
Median $25.91 an hour for 580 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 25th of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.10). 580 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.00 – $21.00 | $37,440 – $43,690 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.00 – $36.06 | $43,690 – $75,010 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.06 – $37.09 | $75,010 – $77,150 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $20.64 | $26.36 | $27.66 | 50 | 2% above |
| Albuquerque | $18.00 | $26.26 | $37.09 | 400 | 1% above |
| Las Cruces | $15.00 | $18.26 | $26.36 | 40 | 30% below |
Drywall installer wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.02 | $32.89 | $15.34 | 1,000 |
| 2000 | $12.33 | $23.05 | $15.80 | 920 |
| 2001 | $12.83 | $23.32 | $15.87 | 730 |
| 2002 | $13.63 | $24.39 | $16.21 | 880 |
| 2003 | $12.66 | $22.15 | $16.19 | 750 |
| 2004 | $14.00 | $23.86 | $16.36 | 780 |
| 2005 | $13.13 | $21.64 | $16.70 | 1,010 |
| 2006 | $15.10 | $24.11 | $17.38 | 1,250 |
| 2007 | $15.34 | $23.82 | $17.56 | 1,200 |
| 2008 | $15.58 | $23.30 | $18.12 | 1,240 |
| 2009 | $15.20 | $22.81 | $17.88 | 800 |
| 2010 | $16.58 | $24.48 | $17.94 | 680 |
| 2011 | $16.86 | $24.13 | $17.78 | 530 |
| 2012 | $17.21 | $24.13 | $17.89 | 580 |
| 2013 | $14.51 | $20.05 | $17.89 | 630 |
| 2014 | $15.55 | $21.15 | $18.32 | 520 |
| 2015 | $16.02 | $21.76 | $18.85 | 690 |
| 2016 | $18.15 | $24.35 | $19.75 | 640 |
| 2017 | $18.98 | $24.93 | $20.60 | 400 |
| 2018 | $18.11 | $23.22 | $21.03 | 550 |
| 2019 | $18.28 | $23.02 | $21.97 | 670 |
| 2020 | $18.84 | $23.44 | $22.82 | 990 |
| 2021 | $18.38 | $21.84 | $23.09 | 630 |
| 2022 | $24.42 | $26.86 | $24.25 | 550 |
| 2023 | $24.15 | $25.52 | $26.78 | 730 |
| 2024 | $25.23 | $25.89 | $27.95 | 490 |
| 2025 | $25.91 | $25.91 | $28.33 | 580 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in New Mexico changed by +19.1% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 1 of the 28 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.29 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.72). 25 of the 28 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Catron County at $22.39). The market median for the state is $25.91.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley | Union CARP1319-007 2025-01-01 | $29.09 | $16.20 | $45.29 | NM20260024 |
| Curry | Survey SUNM2010-004 2010-11-09 | $21.38 | $5.35 | $26.73 | NM20260016 |
| Doña Ana | Survey SUNM2016-002 2018-09-26 | $19.64 | $6.20 | $25.84 | NM20260045 |
| Otero | Survey SUNM2010-013 2010-11-09 | $21.39 | $2.85 | $24.24 | NM20260025 |
| Santa Fe | Survey SUNM2016-005 2018-09-26 | $19.64 | $3.91 | $23.55 | NM20260048 |
| Cibola | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260015 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260031 |
| Mora | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Survey SUNM2010-014 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260026 |
| San Miguel | Survey SUNM2010-016 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260028 |
| Taos | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Survey SUNM2010-018 2010-11-09 | $18.34 | $4.38 | $22.72 | NM20260030 |
| Catron | Survey SUNM2010-001 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Survey SUNM2010-002 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260014 |
| De Baca | Survey SUNM2010-005 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Survey SUNM2010-006 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260018 |
| Grant | Survey SUNM2010-007 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260019 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260032 |
| Lea | Survey SUNM2010-008 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260020 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUNM2010-009 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260021 |
| Luna | Survey SUNM2010-011 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260023 |
| Roosevelt | Survey SUNM2010-015 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260027 |
| Sierra | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Survey SUNM2010-017 2010-11-09 | $19.64 | $2.75 | $22.39 | NM20260029 |
| Los Alamos | Survey SUNM2010-010 2010-11-09 | $13.00 | $0.00 | $13.00 | NM20260022 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. 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
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in New Mexico?
The median drywall installer in New Mexico earned $25.91 an hour ($53,900 a year) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $21.00–$36.06; the top 10% earn more than $37.09.
Where does New Mexico rank for drywall installer pay?
New Mexico ranks 25th of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $25.91 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for drywall installers in 1 counties, with a typical package of $45.29 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many drywall installers work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 580 drywall and ceiling tile installers in New Mexico in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 47-2081.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.