2026 New Mexico Minimum Wage
The 2026 New Mexico Minimum Wage is $12.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-08-29
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in New Mexico covered by the state minimum wage law. The Department of Labor's table gives the basic minimum rate with no employer-size condition attached and no exclusions named, and adds only a weekly threshold after which premium pay is due. The table does not display subminimum rates for minors, students or trainees, or any higher rate set by a local government, so nothing further about New Mexico is recorded in the source this page rests on.
What changed this year, and why
The U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wage laws, updated July 1, 2026, lists New Mexico's basic minimum rate as $12.00 per hour. The New Mexico entry is one of the shortest in the table: a rate and a weekly premium pay threshold, with no adjustment language, no employer-size condition and no federal linkage clause. No earlier year of this record is published here, so this page states no year-over-year change.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in New Mexico in 2026?
- It is $12.00 per hour. That is the basic minimum rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for New Mexico in its State Minimum Wage Laws table, in the version updated July 1, 2026. The figure published here is taken from that entry and from nothing else, so it reflects the state rate as the department recorded it on that date.
- Which employers have to pay the New Mexico minimum wage?
- The table's New Mexico entry states a basic minimum rate and attaches no employer-size condition to it. For several other states the same table opens the entry with a coverage line limiting the rate to employers above a stated headcount; New Mexico's entry carries no such line, and it names no exclusions from coverage either.
- Does New Mexico require daily overtime?
- The entry states a weekly threshold after which premium pay is due, and no daily one. A handful of entries in the same table state both a daily and a weekly threshold; New Mexico's is among the majority that state the weekly threshold alone. The hour count itself is a figure in the source that this page does not republish.
- Does the New Mexico minimum wage go up each year?
- The table states an annual adjustment inside the entry itself for several states, naming a formula or a recalculation date. The New Mexico entry contains no such statement. This page therefore publishes the rate the table listed as of July 1, 2026 and makes no claim about how or when the rate is recalculated, because the source document does not say.
- Is there a separate tipped minimum wage for New Mexico?
- The Department of Labor's state table lists one basic minimum rate per hour for New Mexico and no separate cash wage for tipped employees, so this page does not publish one. The same table says plainly that differential provisions are not displayed in it, naming subminimum rates for minors and students and training wages for new hires as its examples.
- Do Albuquerque, Santa Fe or Las Cruces set their own minimum wage rates?
- The Department of Labor's table does not answer that. It notes that some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage, and that such differential provisions are not displayed in the table. The $12.00 per hour figure on this page is the state-level basic rate only, so a local ordinance would sit outside what this source records.
- Is New Mexico's minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage?
- Yes. The same Department of Labor table cites the current federal minimum wage in its entries for states that have no minimum wage law of their own, and New Mexico's basic minimum rate is above that amount. New Mexico's entry also carries no clause adopting the federal rate by reference or replacing the state rate when the federal one is higher, which several other states' entries do carry.
- Where does the $12.00 figure on this page come from?
- From the Wage and Hour Division's State Minimum Wage Laws table at dol.gov, in the snapshot captured for this record, where the New Mexico entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $12.00. The division notes on the same page that it tries to ensure the information is accurate and that individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Minimum wage pay calculator takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
In 2026, the minimum wage is $12 per hour. However, certain workers may be paid less than this rate under specific circumstances. Some states allow employers to pay minors and students a subminimum wage, which is lower than the standard minimum wage. Additionally, some states have a training wage for new hires, allowing employers to pay a reduced rate during an initial training period. In some cases, minors and students may be completely exempt from minimum wage coverage. These special provisions vary by state, so workers and employers should check their state's specific rules to understand if a subminimum, training, or exempt rate applies.
Some states set subminimum rates for minors and/or students or exempt them from coverage or have a training wage for new hires.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
While the 2026 minimum wage is $12 per hour at the state level, individual cities and counties have the authority to set their own minimum wage rates that are higher than the state rate. When a local government establishes a higher minimum wage, employers within that jurisdiction must pay the local rate instead of the state rate. These local variations are not displayed in the state minimum wage table, so workers and employers need to check with their local government to determine if a higher rate applies in their area. This means the actual minimum wage someone receives can depend on the specific city or county where they work, not just the state where they are employed.
Some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees who work overtime are entitled to premium pay. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular hourly rate. This means that for every hour worked beyond the standard threshold, the employee receives their base rate plus an additional half of that rate as premium pay. For example, if an employee earns the $12 minimum wage, their overtime compensation would be calculated by multiplying $12 by one and one-half. Some states have different overtime thresholds or daily overtime rules that may apply instead of the standard weekly calculation. The general rule is one and one-half times the regular rate unless state law specifies a different calculation method. Workers with questions about overtime pay should contact their state labor office for clarification on the rules that apply to their situation.
The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Wage and Hour Division works to maintain accurate minimum wage information, but for official and authoritative guidance on wage rates and requirements, individuals should contact their state labor office directly. State labor offices can provide definitive answers about minimum wage rates, overtime rules, subminimum wages, and other employment standards that apply in that specific state. If you have questions about whether you are being paid correctly, need to file a wage complaint, or want to understand your rights under state wage laws, the state labor office is the appropriate resource to consult. They have the official information needed to resolve wage disputes and clarify employment requirements.
The Wage and Hour Division tries to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, but individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
- Hourly
New Mexico Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $12.00
Other years
- 2026
Every New Mexico Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state