OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
NM JATC / Light Up New Mexico
IBEW Local 611
Albuquerque, NM · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$16–$20/hr
Journeyman
$34–$42/hr
Verified May 17, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $25 fee
Apprenticeships
New Mexico.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
330
active construction apprentices
20+
registered programs (DOL)
2
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
New Mexico · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 330 total
Electrician
112 apprentices$18.96/hr avg start
Laborer
64 apprentices$20.03/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
36 apprentices$19.07/hr avg start
Other Construction
26 apprentices$24.52/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
24 apprentices$22.71/hr avg start
Ironworker
18 apprentices$19.84/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
13 apprentices$19.19/hr avg start
Carpenter
11 apprentices$21.65/hr avg start
+5 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$18.96/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$20.03/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$19.07/hr
avg starting wage
Other Construction
$24.52/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in New Mexico · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$27.35/hr
~$57K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$26.16/hr
~$54K/yr
HVAC Techs
$25.02/hr
~$52K/yr
Line Installers
$34.68/hr
~$72K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 4 metro areas in New Mexico. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
OPENABCRELOCATION OK
ABC New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM · Electrician (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$14–$18/hr
Journeyman
$28–$38/hr
Verified May 17, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
2 manually verified. New Mexico has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in New Mexico with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 20 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. NM Chapter | ALBUQUERQUE | ElectricianHVAC TechnicianCarpenter+5 | 510 | non-union |
Southwest Piping Institute | ALBUQUERQUE | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 390 | UNION |
JATC FOR THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY | ALBUQUERQUE | Electrician | 335 | UNION |
NORTHERN NEW MEXICO INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS | ALBUQUERQUE | Electrician | 311 | non-union |
Southwest Carpenter & Affiliated Trades Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee | Albuquerque | Painter/FinisherCarpenter | 242 | UNION |
SHEET METAL WORKERS LU 49 JATC | ALBUQUERQUE | Sheet Metal Worker | 175 | UNION |
Independent Electrical Contractors Inc. Southern New Mexico Chapter | LAS CRUCES | Electrician | 91 | non-union |
NEW MEXICO LABORERS' TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIP FUND | ALBUQUERQUE | Laborer | 87 | UNION |
Gridworks Inc | ALBUQUERQUE | Operating EngineerElectrician | 66 | non-union |
NEW MEXICO IRONWORKERS JOINT APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE | Albuquerque | Ironworker | 50 | UNION |
AGC NEW MEXICO MULTI-TRADE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM | ALBUQUERQUE | Bricklayer/MasonLaborerGlazier+1 | 41 | non-union |
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 131 JAC | ALBUQUERQUE | Elevator Constructor | 38 | UNION |
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE | Electrician | 38 | UNION |
NEW MEXICO ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION | ALBUQUERQUE | Roofer | 32 | non-union |
FTI OF DISTRICT COUNCIL 36 | ALBUQUERQUE | GlazierPainter/Finisher | 23 | UNION |
International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers 76 JATC | Albuquerque | Other Construction | 19 | UNION |
Sandia National Laboratories-Trades | ALBUQUERQUE | Carpenter | 14 | UNION |
Alliance Fire Protection | ALBUQUERQUE | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 12 | non-union |
CITY OF FARMINGTON | Farmington | Electrician | 12 | UNION |
NM State Conference of Plasterers & Cement Masons Apprenticeship Program | Albuquerque | Bricklayer/MasonPainter/Finisher | 10 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in New Mexico may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in New Mexico?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in New Mexico free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
New Mexico Licensing
New Mexico is an SAA state and is not right-to-work. The Regulation and Licensing Dept.'s Construction Industries Division (CID) issues journeyman certificates for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) trades. The CID also handles inspections and code enforcement.