Known as ABQ or Duke City, Albuquerque is New Mexico's largest city with a population of around 550,000. Because of the compact size and proximity to the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande, Albuquerque residents have easy access to many outdoor activities including mountain biking, hiking and kayaking.
Top Industries in Albuquerque
Albuquerque's top industries have a focus on high technology, including:
- Semiconductor production
- Aerospace
- Research
The largest employers in the area include:
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Honeywell Aerospace
- Intel
- Hewlett-Packard
- Kirtland Air Force Base
Up-and-coming industries in Albuquerque support these high-tech employers and include professional and business services and education and health services.
Albuquerque's most popular vocational careers include:
Why Is Albuquerque Good for Trade and Vocational Students?
Students attending vocational schools in Albuquerque can apply for need-based financial aid from New Mexico. The state also offers special grants to students pursuing a degree program in a healthcare-related field at technical schools in Albuquerque who plan to remain in New Mexico after graduation.
If you're interested in attending trade schools in Albuquerque, you may want to consider the following schools:
Central New Mexico Community College offers many degree programs in applied technology; including aircraft maintenance, engineering drafting and unmanned aircraft systems. The school also offers training in many skilled trades, such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing and carpentry.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a community college that encourages American Indian and Alaskan Native students in their pursuit of vocational training. The school offers programs in computer-aided drafting and design, culinary arts and network management.
Pima Medical Institute offers certificate programs and degree programs in healthcare fields such as nursing, dental and veterinary.
Our site has many pages about learning a trade and the career options it brings.
Learn More about Albuquerque
Demographics | Total Population | 559,202 |
Education and Earnings | # Enrolled in College | 36,845 |
| Median Earnings Without High School Degree | $20,753 | |
| Median Earnings With High School Degree | $27,828 | |
| Median Earnings With Associate Degree | $31,307 |
Commute | Average Commute Time | 22 minutes |
| % Commutes by Walking | 1.9% | |
| % Commutes by Bicycle | 1.2% | |
| % Commutes by Public Transportation | 2% |
Housing | Median Housing Cost | $961 |
| Median Gross Rent | $855 | |
| Median House Value | $193,000 |