Machinist Apprenticeship in New Mexico

Wages, programs & career outlook

Machinists set up and operate the lathes, mills, and CNC machines that turn raw metal into precision parts — aerospace components, medical devices, automotive internals. The job mixes shop-floor operation with blueprint reading, CAM programming, and quality inspection.

NM Median Salary
$57,520/yr
+2% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
NM Employment
830
Machinists employed
NM Sponsors
2
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
0.0%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
29,500
Nationally, per yr

Machinist Apprenticeship in New Mexico: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in New Mexico combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

New Mexico pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in New Mexico are $57,520/year, +2% above the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

New Mexico has 2 registered apprenticeship sponsors for machinist listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% job growth for machinists nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 29,500 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — New Mexico-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

New Mexico Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in New Mexico across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,060
Median
$57,520
90th pct
$85,530
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,120$76,970

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in New Mexico

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for New Mexico. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Machinist Apprenticeship Sponsors in New Mexico

2 machinist-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for New Mexico. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current machinist apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
MURDOCK MACHINE SHOP INC. Artesia Eddy County
Los Alamos National Laboratory Machinist Apprentice Program Los Alamos
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

Filter by occupation code 51-4041 and state NM for the most relevant results.

Machinist Apprenticeship in New Mexico

With 2 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, New Mexico's Machinist apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Machinists make in New Mexico?
The median annual wage for Machinists in New Mexico is $57,520 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,060 at the 10th percentile to $85,530 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Machinist apprenticeship?
A typical Machinist apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Should I do a Machinist apprenticeship or go to trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for a Machinist apprenticeship in New Mexico?
Contact one of the 2 Machinist-adjacent registered sponsors in New Mexico (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Machinist apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $28,760/yr in New Mexico). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Machinists also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Precision Metal Working programs in New Mexico →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in New Mexico

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.