Barber in New Mexico
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NM. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a barber in New Mexico
To become a licensed Barber in New Mexico, individuals must complete a 1,200-hour training program at a board-approved school. They must then pass the NIC Barber Examination, which includes both a theory and practical component, as well as a New Mexico State Law Examination. The initial application fee is $100, and licenses are renewed every two years. New Mexico offers reciprocity to barbers licensed in other states with comparable training hours and good standing, and has specific agreements with New York, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for New Mexico. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist New Mexico requirements
| Licensing body | New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists |
| State license | Required |
| Education | 1200-hour training program |
| Experience | 1,200.0 hours |
| Exam | NIC Barber Examination (Theory and Practical) and New Mexico State Law Examination ($161) |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Notes | Minimum age: 17 years old. Must have completed at least the 10th grade or equivalent. Licenses expire at the end of the licensee's birth month. Examination scores are only valid for 12 months from the date of training completion for those who started training on or after December 17, 2015. For those who started training before December 17, 2015, scores are valid for 24 months. A background check is likely required. |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.