Sheet metal worker salary in New Mexico
Median $27.27 an hour for 640 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Sheet metal worker pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 37th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.58). 640 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $17.50 – $20.00 | $36,410 – $41,600 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $20.00 – $38.05 | $41,600 – $79,140 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $38.05 – $40.71 | $79,140 – $84,690 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Sheet metal worker pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $18.00 | $27.90 | $29.21 | $40.71 | 420 | 2% above |
| Las Cruces | $16.87 | $26.36 | $29.22 | $37.95 | 80 | 3% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Sheet metal worker wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.58 | $24.31 | $14.09 | 360 |
| 2000 | $10.63 | $19.87 | $15.31 | 820 |
| 2001 | $11.56 | $21.01 | $15.97 | 930 |
| 2002 | $13.65 | $24.43 | $16.62 | 660 |
| 2003 | $13.62 | $23.83 | $16.83 | 610 |
| 2004 | $15.45 | $26.33 | $17.09 | 500 |
| 2005 | $16.06 | $26.47 | $17.50 | 620 |
| 2006 | $16.65 | $26.59 | $17.96 | 780 |
| 2007 | $16.70 | $25.93 | $18.85 | 1,200 |
| 2008 | $17.69 | $26.45 | $19.37 | 1,190 |
| 2009 | $17.82 | $26.74 | $19.54 | 880 |
| 2010 | $18.50 | $27.31 | $20.05 | 590 |
| 2011 | $18.60 | $26.62 | $20.55 | 750 |
| 2012 | $18.54 | $26.00 | $20.81 | 690 |
| 2013 | $20.52 | $28.36 | $21.10 | 790 |
| 2014 | $19.26 | $26.19 | $21.67 | 740 |
| 2015 | $20.34 | $27.63 | $21.99 | 800 |
| 2016 | $18.73 | $25.12 | $22.57 | 610 |
| 2017 | $19.13 | $25.13 | $23.07 | 710 |
| 2018 | $19.91 | $25.53 | $23.30 | 730 |
| 2019 | $23.19 | $29.20 | $24.23 | 710 |
| 2020 | $26.50 | $32.96 | $24.70 | 730 |
| 2021 | $28.05 | $33.33 | $25.69 | 460 |
| 2022 | $23.32 | $25.65 | $26.61 | 560 |
| 2023 | $35.44 | $37.45 | $28.26 | 700 |
| 2024 | $28.47 | $29.22 | $29.26 | 650 |
| 2025 | $27.27 | $27.27 | $29.71 | 640 |
In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in New Mexico changed by -1.3% over the last ten years of data and by -6.6% since 2019.
Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in New Mexico?
BLS counted 640 sheet metal workers in New Mexico in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 24%. 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 sheet metal workers in New Mexico
New Mexico's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +3.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 700 to 720, with about 60 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 640 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 sheet metal workers in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 33 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $56.01 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.66). 25 of the 33 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Catron County at $31.66). The market median for the state is $27.27.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo | Union SHEE0049-004 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260044 |
| Doña Ana | Union SHEE0049-005 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260045 |
| Grant | Union SHEE0049-013 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260019 |
| Sandoval | Union SHEE0049-004 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260047 |
| San Juan | Union SHEE0049-005 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260046 |
| Santa Fe | Union SHEE0049-005 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260048 |
| Torrance | Union SHEE0049-004 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260049 |
| Valencia | Union SHEE0049-004 2024-01-01 | $37.50 | $18.51 | $56.01 | NM20260049 |
| Catron | Survey SUNM2010-001 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Survey SUNM2010-002 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260014 |
| Cibola | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260015 |
| Curry | Survey SUNM2010-004 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260016 |
| De Baca | Survey SUNM2010-005 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Survey SUNM2010-006 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260018 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260031 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260032 |
| Lea | Survey SUNM2010-008 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260020 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUNM2010-009 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260021 |
| Los Alamos | Survey SUNM2010-010 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260022 |
| Luna | Survey SUNM2010-011 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260023 |
| McKinley | Survey SUNM2010-012 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260024 |
| Mora | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260031 |
| Otero | Survey SUNM2010-013 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260025 |
| Quay | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Survey SUNM2010-014 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260026 |
| Roosevelt | Survey SUNM2010-015 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260027 |
| San Miguel | Survey SUNM2010-016 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260028 |
| Sierra | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Survey SUNM2010-017 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260029 |
| Taos | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Survey SUNM2010-018 2010-11-09 | $22.01 | $9.65 | $31.66 | NM20260030 |
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?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just sheet metal workers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 22 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 22,922 in 2015 to 28,689 in 2025, +25.2%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna County | 7 | 65 | $205,782 | $3,957 |
| Bernalillo County | 258 | 3,449 | $73,171 | $1,407 |
| Sandoval County | 46 | 282 | $68,377 | $1,315 |
| San Juan County | 32 | 383 | $65,842 | $1,266 |
| Santa Fe County | 80 | 499 | $61,032 | $1,174 |
| Doña Ana County | 63 | 614 | $56,931 | $1,095 |
| Taos County | 21 | 92 | $53,938 | $1,037 |
| San Miguel County | 7 | 55 | $52,958 | $1,018 |
| Rio Arriba County | 10 | 28 | $51,765 | $995 |
| Chaves County | 27 | 192 | $51,519 | $991 |
| Curry County | 12 | 340 | $50,622 | $973 |
| McKinley County | 10 | 193 | $48,872 | $940 |
| Otero County | 17 | 206 | $48,650 | $936 |
| Roosevelt County | 5 | 32 | $44,825 | $862 |
| Lincoln County | 14 | 53 | $44,750 | $861 |
| Cibola County | 3 | 11 | $37,228 | $716 |
Keep comparing
Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
More on New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do sheet metal workers make in New Mexico?
The median sheet metal worker in New Mexico earned $27.27 an hour ($56,720 a year) in May 2025, 8% below the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $20.00–$38.05; the top 10% earn more than $40.71.
Where does New Mexico rank for sheet metal worker pay?
New Mexico ranks 37th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $27.27 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union sheet metal worker rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 8 counties, with a typical package of $56.01 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many sheet metal workers work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 640 sheet metal workers in New Mexico in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.96; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is sheet metal worker work growing in New Mexico?
New Mexico's labor market agency projects +3.9% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 700 to 720 jobs.
How many sheet metal worker openings a year are there in New Mexico?
New Mexico projects about 60 openings a year for sheet metal workers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 9,800 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 47-2211. 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.