Minimum wage in New Mexico in 2026
The minimum wage in New Mexico is $12.00 an hour in 2026, and up to $15.40 in places like Santa Fe and unincorporated Santa Fe County. No increase is scheduled in state law.
Checked against official sources.
New Mexico minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $12.00
- A week, 40 hours
- $480.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $24,960
- Tipped cash wage
- $3.00before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Local minimum wages in New Mexico
These places set their own, higher minimum wage. If you work there, your employer must pay the local rate.
| Place | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $15.40 | March 1, 2026 | $17.50 on January 1, 2027 |
| Unincorporated Santa Fe County | $15.40 | March 1, 2026 | None set yet |
Tipped workers
Employers in New Mexico can pay tipped workers as little as $3.00 an hour in cash and count up to $9.00 an hour in tips toward the $12.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. A tipped worker gets more than $30 a month in tips.
New Mexico minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $11.50 |
| 2023 | $12.00 |
| 2024 | $12.00 |
| 2025 | $12.00 |
| 2026 | $12.00 |
New Mexico's last step in state law was $12.00 on January 1, 2023. It is not indexed, so a raise needs a new law. Several New Mexico cities and counties, such as Santa Fe and Albuquerque, set higher local rates.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in New Mexico in 2026?
The minimum wage in New Mexico is $12.00 an hour in 2026, and up to $15.40 in places like Santa Fe and unincorporated Santa Fe County. No increase is scheduled in state law.
How much is minimum wage a year in New Mexico?
At $12.00 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $480.00 a week and $24,960 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in New Mexico?
Employers in New Mexico can pay tipped workers as little as $3.00 an hour in cash and count up to $9.00 an hour in tips toward the $12.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. A tipped worker gets more than $30 a month in tips.
When does the minimum wage go up in New Mexico?
No increase is scheduled in state law. New Mexico's last step in state law was $12.00 on January 1, 2023. It is not indexed, so a raise needs a new law.
Which cities in New Mexico have a higher minimum wage?
Santa Fe ($15.40) and unincorporated Santa Fe County ($15.40) have their own minimum wages above the state rate. Workers there get the local rate.
Minimum wage in other Western states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Senate Bill 35 (2021), amending NMSA 50-4-22, New Mexico Legislature, updated
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Living Wage in the City of Santa Fe, City of Santa Fe
- Santa Fe County announces 2026 living wage adjustments, Santa Fe County, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.