HVAC technician salary in New Mexico
HVAC technicians in New Mexico earn a median $24.17 an hour ($50,270 a year), 18% below the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $17.97 and $36.43. That ranks New Mexico 47th of the 50 states and DC, in the bottom ten by median pay; Albuquerque pays the most of its metros at $27.46.
$24.17
Median hourly pay
18% below the US
$50,270
Median annual pay
$48,919 after state income tax
1,950
HVAC techs employed
2.2 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in New Mexico, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 1,950 HVAC mechanics and installers on New Mexico payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.0 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($36.43 against $17.97 an hour). The average, $26.60, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $17.97 | $37,380 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $21.71 | $45,160 | $23.25 |
| Median | $24.17 | $50,270 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $30.24 | $62,900 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $36.43 | $75,770 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How New Mexico compares
The $24.17 median is 18% below the national figure and ranks 47th of the 50 states and DC, in the bottom ten. HVAC techs are a thinner slice of the workforce here: 2.2 per 1,000 jobs, 15% under the national share. The median worker in New Mexico, across every occupation, earns $22.70 an hour, so HVAC pays 6% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across New Mexico's metro areas
Albuquerque pays the most ($27.46 an hour) and Santa Fe the least ($23.73), a gap of $3.73. Outside the metros, 2 nonmetropolitan areas report $23.21 and $21.71.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $27.46 | 1,000 |
| Farmington, NM | $25.02 | 110 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $23.87 | 240 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $23.73 | 150 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $23.21 | 300 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $21.71 | 60 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in New Mexico
A tech at the New Mexico median earns $24.17 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $93 here ($62–$124), 18% below the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much lower.
Of each $93 billed, about $24 is the technician's wage. The other $69 pays for payroll taxes and benefits, insurance, the truck and tools, drive and training time nobody is billed for, and the shop's margin.
Take a typical New Mexico AC repair at $350: about $202 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $52.
- AC repair cost in New Mexico: typical $350, of which $202 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in New Mexico: typical $310, of which $208 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in New Mexico: typical $370, of which $202 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in New Mexico: typical $130, of which $130 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in New Mexico.
Source: wages, BLS OEWS May 2025; billable rate, HomeGuide HVAC repair costs (2026) scaled by local HVAC wages; repair prices, HVACFIND Price Index 2026Q4.2 (model estimates for a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home).
After state tax and local prices
New Mexico's graduated income tax (top rate 5.9%) takes about $1,351 of the $50,270 median, leaving $48,919, or 97% of gross. That leaves New Mexico 47th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in New Mexico run 8% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $50,270 median buys what $54,517 would nationally. On that measure New Mexico ranks 50th of 51.
Source: state income tax at 2026 rates, single filer, standard deduction; federal income tax, FICA and city taxes left out. Price parities: BEA, 2024.
Other trades in New Mexico
Next to HVAC techs in New Mexico, electricians earn $3.90 more an hour and plumbers earn $5.37 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (New Mexico) | $24.17 | — |
| Electricians | $28.07 | +$3.90 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $29.54 | +$5.37 |
| Sheet metal workers | $27.27 | +$3.10 |
| Home appliance repairers | $18.00 | −$6.17 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $22.00 | −$2.17 |
| All occupations | $22.70 | −$1.47 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in New Mexico
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) licenses HVAC contractors across New Mexico; the relevant classes are Mechanical MM-series classifications covering HVAC (e.g., MM-98); journeyman certificates.
Refrigerant work also needs EPA Section 608 certification. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award, usually a certificate from a trade school or community college program, as the typical way in, followed by long-term on-the-job training, which BLS defines as more than 12 months. No prior work experience is required. How to check an HVAC contractor's license in New Mexico.
Source: HVACFIND licensing list, checked 2026-09-30 (confirm with the board before relying on it); BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035.
Questions
How much do HVAC technicians make in New Mexico?
A median $24.17 an hour, or $50,270 a year, across 1,950 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $17.97 and the top tenth over $36.43.
Where in New Mexico do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Albuquerque has the highest median ($27.46 an hour) and Santa Fe the lowest ($23.73), among the 4 New Mexico metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after New Mexico income tax?
New Mexico's graduated income tax (top rate 5.9%) takes about $1,351 of the $50,270 median, leaving $48,919, or 97% of gross. This uses 2026 rates for a single filer with the standard deduction; federal income tax and FICA are not included.
Do you need a license for HVAC work in New Mexico?
Contractors do. New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) licenses HVAC contractors across New Mexico; the relevant classes are Mechanical MM-series classifications covering HVAC (e.g., MM-98); journeyman certificates. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in New Mexico?
About $93 in our price model ($62–$124), which scales national billable rates by New Mexico HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $350, $202 of it labor.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: HVAC mechanics and installers (49-9021)
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035
- O*NET 31.0: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- EPA Section 608 technician certification
- HomeGuide: HVAC repair cost and hourly rates (2026)
- New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID): license lookup
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