An average electrician’s salary in New Mexico could be enough for many people to consider taking up a trade, or even considering relocating so they can earn a little more. But, it’s worth being smart about it. Like any other large decision, it’s worth knowing as much as possible ahead of time.
As much as you could earn in New Mexico as an electrician, it doesn’t mean it’ll work out as high as you’d think. More than a few factors could play a role in this, and they’re always worth keeping in mind.
What Affects the Average Electrician Salary in New Mexico?
Before going through what the average salary for an electrician in New Mexico is, it’s worth looking at what could affect this. Not every electrician in the state is going to earn the same as everyone else. That’s because more than a few factors play into this.
The most notable of these are:
- Licensing & Certifications – The more licenses and certifications you have, the more you can charge for your services. But, these take time to earn, so it could be a while before they have a significant impact on your salary.
- Union Membership – Union electricians tend to earn more than non-union ones, making this a profitable path to go down. Keep in mind, however, this often comes with paying union fees.
- Area of Specialization – You can specialize in several areas as an electrician, and some of these will pay more than others. It’ll also take time to develop this specialization, so it might be a while before it impacts your salary.
- Overtime Availability – Overtime can often have a significant impact on your salary when you’re working for other electricians. While this isn’t always an option, it can still help to pad your salary quite a bit in time.
These, and a few other factors, can all have a significant impact on how much you earn as an electrician in New Mexico. But, that still begs the question of how much you can actually earn when you’re working full-time.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect to earn.
What Electricians Can Expect in New Mexico
The typical electrician salary in New Mexico is between $55,000 and $60,000 a year, depending on each of the factors above. But, that doesn’t mean you can expect to make the higher end of the range from the start. Instead, this could depend on where in your career you are.
Early-Career Electricians
New electricians, like those in any other career field, can expect to earn on the lower end of the payscale for a while. A traditional apprenticeship usually includes hands-on experience and combines it with classroom education.
The average salary for an entry-level electrician in New Mexico is between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, so you can expect to bring in between $17 and $22 an hour. Apprentice wages tend to increase incrementally as you get more experience and earn certifications.
Mid-Career Electricians
Once you’ve gotten licensed, you’ll be a journeyman electrician, and you should earn quite a bit more than you did when you first started out. A lot of this is because you’ll be more experienced and be able to work independently, letting you charge more per hour than you used to.
The average journeyman electrician salary in New Mexico is $55,000 to $70,000 a year, working out to $26 to $34 an hour. At this point, you can decide to specialize, join a union, and pursue more certifications, all of which can help increase your income in time.
Master Electricians
Master electricians are the best paid electricians in New Mexico, but this is the case elsewhere. They’ll have a significant amount of experience, certifications, and more, which is why they usually earn at least $75,000 a year, though this can increase to $100,000+.
This works out to at least $38 an hour, but it boasts the potential for considerably more. Master electricians in New Mexico who run their own businesses and generally work on larger commercial projects tend to earn much more, too.
Wrapping it Up
With how high the average electrician salary in New Mexico can be, it’s easy to see why it can be a tempting career choice. Keep in mind that the higher end of the spectrum could take years to achieve, as well as more than a few certifications.
Once you’ve put the work in, though, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. You’ll be earning a great living before you know it.
