Lights, Camera, Jobs: Film Work Is Booming in Albuquerque
Published: June 17, 2026 | By LocalJobPage Team
Albuquerque, NM — The Duke City has become a real player in film and television, and the cameras keep rolling. Anchored by Netflix's big bet on ABQ Studios at Mesa del Sol, New Mexico's production industry is creating jobs both on set and behind the scenes.
Production crew, trades, and support roles, the kind of careers that come with a thriving film hub.
Netflix and the ABQ Studios bet
Netflix has invested heavily in expanding ABQ Studios, a move estimated to bring around 1,000 production jobs to New Mexico, along with roughly 1,500 construction jobs to build it out. Some have called Netflix the next Intel for Albuquerque, an anchor employer whose presence ripples across housing, schools, and the local economy.
What film jobs actually look like
Hollywood glamour aside, most film work is skilled trades and logistics. Productions need carpenters and set builders, electricians and grips, drivers, wardrobe and makeup, catering, production assistants, accounting, and office support. Many of these roles pay well and are perfect for people with construction, electrical, or hospitality backgrounds who never thought of film as an option.
How to break in
The film world runs on crew lists and connections, but everyone starts somewhere. Production assistant roles are a common entry point, and New Mexico has training programs and crew databases designed to feed local talent into productions. If you already have a trade, you may be closer to a film job than you think. Reliability and a willingness to work long shoot days go a long way.
What it means for job seekers
Explore the range of production-related roles:
- Film production jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Production assistant jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Electrician jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Carpenter and set builder jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Catering and craft services jobs in Albuquerque, NM
Why this matters for the metro
A growing film industry diversifies Albuquerque's economy and creates flexible, well-paying work for people across many skill sets. As studios book more productions, the demand for local crew grows, which is exactly why now is a smart time to learn the ropes.
Job seekers can set up free Albuquerque job alerts for film and production roles. Productions and vendors hiring crew can post jobs on LocalJobPage to reach New Mexico's growing talent base.
From Mesa del Sol soundstages to location shoots across the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque's film scene keeps growing, and it keeps hiring local.