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New Mexico utility lineman prevailing wage, county by county
A utility lineman's prevailing wage on New Mexico public works runs from $41.90 an hour in Valencia County to $70.44 in Los Alamos County. The median county is $41.90.
Main utility lineman classification in each county, 11.1.2.20 NMAC rates for decisions issued from July 1, 2026. Each project is governed by one wage rate decision "which shall remain effective for the duration of the project" (11.1.2.14 NMAC). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does a utility lineman make on prevailing wage in New Mexico?
1 group of counties with identical rates and 1 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The table below lists which counties are in each group.
- Los Alamos County1 county · Electricians – outside classifications: Los $70.44
- Bernalillo County group32 counties · Electricians – outside classifications: Zone$41.90
Which counties pay which rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base + fringe | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County | Electricians – outside classifications: Los Alamos County – Journeyman technician | $70.44 | $49.55 |
| Bernalillo County group, 32 localities: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, Valencia | Electricians – outside classifications: Zone 1 – Ground man | $41.90 | $28.54 |
1 group of counties with identical DWS rates, and 1 county with rates of its own.
11.1.2.20 NMAC lists journeyworker (and some helper) rates. Apprentices are paid the rate set by their registered apprenticeship program (11.1.2.19(B) NMAC). The 'Apprenticeship' column is the employer contribution to the public works apprentice and training fund, which the rule says is included in the fringe rate (11.1.2.19(C) NMAC).
Questions about New Mexico utility lineman pay
What is the utility lineman prevailing wage in Bernalillo County?
$41.90 an hour: a $28.54 base wage plus $13.36 in fringe, under 11.1.2.20 NMAC rates for decisions issued from July 1, 2026. Overtime and every utility lineman classification in Bernalillo County.
Does utility lineman prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Bernalillo County the $41.90 total is a $28.54 base wage plus $13.36 in fringe, about 32% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does utility lineman prevailing wage pay overtime in New Mexico?
New Mexico's rate table sets no overtime premium or hours. The general rule applies: 1½ times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a week. The rule doesn't say whether the premium applies to base only or base plus fringe, so we don't compute overtime dollars.
Do apprentice utility linemans get this rate?
11.1.2.20 NMAC lists journeyworker (and some helper) rates. Apprentices are paid the rate set by their registered apprenticeship program (11.1.2.19(B) NMAC). The 'Apprenticeship' column is the employer contribution to the public works apprentice and training fund, which the rule says is included in the fringe rate (11.1.2.19(C) NMAC).
Why do some counties have the same utility lineman rate?
DWS often publishes the same utility lineman rates for several counties. Across New Mexico, the 33 counties with a utility lineman rate fall into 2 distinct sets of rates, and 1 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 32 counties (the Bernalillo County group).