Current Minimum Wage in New Mexico
The minimum wage in New Mexico is $12.00 per hour as of 2026. This is $4.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
Wage Breakdown
| Pay Period | Gross Pay | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $12.00 | 1 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $96 | 8 |
| Weekly | $480 | 40 |
| Biweekly | $960 | 80 |
| Monthly | $2,080 | ~173 |
| Annual | $24,960 | 2,080 |
Tipped Employee Wage
Tipped workers in New Mexico can be paid a cash wage of $3.00/hr, with the expectation that tips make up the difference to the full $12.00/hr minimum. If tips don't bring total compensation to the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.
Scheduled Increases
No scheduled increases beyond $12.00.
Living Wage vs. Minimum Wage
Federal Poverty Line (single)
$15,060/year
Minimum wage is $9,900 above poverty line
Estimated Living Wage (NM)
~$15.88/hr
Based on cost of living index (93.4)
Cost of Living Context
New Mexico's cost of living index is 93.4 (national average = 100). This means living in New Mexico is 6.6% cheaper than the national average. The median hourly wage in New Mexico is $19.14/hr, which is 60% above the minimum wage.
Key Facts
Santa Fe and Las Cruces have higher local minimums ($14.60 and $12.36 respectively).
How This Compares
| Metric | NM | Federal | Highest (WA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Wage | $12.00 | $7.25 | $16.66 |
| Tipped Wage | $3.00 | $2.13 | $16.66 |
| Annual (FT) | $24,960 | $15,080 | $34,653 |
Useful Resources
New Mexico Average Salary
Median income and top employers in NM
New Mexico Tax Rates
Income, sales & property tax in NM
Salary Calculator
Convert hourly to annual, weekly, monthly
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate take-home pay after taxes