Painter salary in New Mexico
Median $22.23 an hour for 1,010 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Painter pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 38th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 35th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.11). 1,010 painters 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 | $18.16 – $19.48 | $37,760 – $40,530 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $19.48 – $24.19 | $40,530 – $50,320 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $24.19 – $33.92 | $50,320 – $70,560 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $21.23 | $23.00 | $23.28 | $35.99 | 90 | 3% above |
| Albuquerque | $18.35 | $22.21 | $23.26 | $30.50 | 630 | about the same as |
| Las Cruces | $17.38 | $21.75 | $24.11 | $35.15 | 100 | 2% below |
| Farmington | $16.60 | $21.53 | $24.55 | $35.90 | 50 | 3% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Painter wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.39 | $23.94 | $12.86 | 1,130 |
| 2000 | $11.69 | $21.86 | $13.10 | 1,370 |
| 2001 | $12.04 | $21.89 | $13.66 | 1,430 |
| 2002 | $12.18 | $21.80 | $13.98 | 1,640 |
| 2003 | $11.76 | $20.58 | $14.12 | 1,410 |
| 2004 | $12.93 | $22.04 | $14.55 | 1,130 |
| 2005 | $12.29 | $20.26 | $14.81 | 1,230 |
| 2006 | $13.58 | $21.69 | $15.00 | 1,520 |
| 2007 | $13.24 | $20.56 | $15.42 | 1,690 |
| 2008 | $13.67 | $20.44 | $15.85 | 1,480 |
| 2009 | $13.29 | $19.94 | $16.21 | 1,250 |
| 2010 | $13.59 | $20.06 | $16.48 | 1,040 |
| 2011 | $13.85 | $19.82 | $17.04 | 960 |
| 2012 | $14.14 | $19.83 | $16.92 | 960 |
| 2013 | $14.52 | $20.07 | $17.01 | 1,070 |
| 2014 | $14.84 | $20.18 | $17.29 | 1,260 |
| 2015 | $14.46 | $19.64 | $17.59 | 1,100 |
| 2016 | $14.90 | $19.99 | $18.06 | 1,080 |
| 2017 | $15.76 | $20.70 | $18.25 | 1,060 |
| 2018 | $16.52 | $21.18 | $18.72 | 970 |
| 2019 | $17.04 | $21.46 | $19.37 | 990 |
| 2020 | $17.51 | $21.78 | $20.25 | 1,000 |
| 2021 | $18.03 | $21.42 | $21.92 | 1,190 |
| 2022 | $18.71 | $20.58 | $22.16 | 1,310 |
| 2023 | $20.74 | $21.91 | $22.94 | 1,230 |
| 2024 | $22.07 | $22.65 | $23.40 | 1,280 |
| 2025 | $22.23 | $22.23 | $23.75 | 1,010 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in New Mexico changed by +13.2% over the last ten years of data and by +3.6% since 2019.
Are there more painter jobs in New Mexico?
BLS counted 1,010 painters in New Mexico in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 7%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for painters in New Mexico
New Mexico's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +6.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,940 to 2,050, with about 160 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,010 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 painters in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 11 of the 33 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $31.00 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.33). 15 of the 33 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Catron County at $18.33). The market median for the state is $22.23.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cibola | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260015 |
| Guadalupe | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260031 |
| Mora | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260026 |
| San Miguel | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260028 |
| Taos | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Union PAIN0823-007 2025-01-01 | $24.00 | $7.00 | $31.00 | NM20260030 |
| McKinley | Union PAIN0823-010 2023-01-01 | $18.25 | $8.80 | $27.05 | NM20260024 |
| Bernalillo | Survey SUNM2016-001 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260044 |
| Doña Ana | Survey SUNM2016-002 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260045 |
| Sandoval | Survey SUNM2016-004 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260047 |
| San Juan | Survey SUNM2016-003 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260046 |
| Santa Fe | Survey SUNM2016-005 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260048 |
| Torrance | Survey SUNM2016-006 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260049 |
| Valencia | Survey SUNM2016-006 2018-09-26 | $16.51 | $2.14 | $18.65 | NM20260049 |
| Lea | Survey SUNM2010-008 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.79 | $18.37 | NM20260020 |
| Catron | Survey SUNM2010-001 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Survey SUNM2010-002 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260014 |
| Curry | Survey SUNM2010-004 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260016 |
| De Baca | Survey SUNM2010-005 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Survey SUNM2010-006 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260018 |
| Grant | Survey SUNM2010-007 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260019 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260032 |
| Luna | Survey SUNM2010-011 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260023 |
| Roosevelt | Survey SUNM2010-015 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260027 |
| Sierra | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Survey SUNM2010-017 2010-11-09 | $16.58 | $1.75 | $18.33 | NM20260029 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUNM2010-009 2010-11-09 | $17.89 | $0.35 | $18.24 | NM20260021 |
| Los Alamos | Survey SUNM2010-010 2010-11-09 | $16.10 | $1.79 | $17.89 | NM20260022 |
| Otero | Survey SUNM2010-013 2010-11-09 | $16.10 | $1.79 | $17.89 | NM20260025 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
More on New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in New Mexico?
The median painter in New Mexico earned $22.23 an hour ($46,240 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $19.48–$24.19; the top 10% earn more than $33.92.
Where does New Mexico rank for painter pay?
New Mexico ranks 38th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $22.23 an hour, and 35th after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 11 counties, with a typical package of $31.00 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many painters work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 1,010 painters in New Mexico in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.80; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is painter work growing in New Mexico?
New Mexico's labor market agency projects +6.1% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 1,940 to 2,050 jobs.
How many painter openings a year are there in New Mexico?
New Mexico projects about 160 openings a year for painters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 24,900 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 47-2141. 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 2026-11-13. 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.