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On January 1, 2022, New Mexico’s state minimum wage increased to $11.50 per hour in accordance with the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 1, 2019. The state minimum wage increased to $2.80 per hour for tipped employees. This increase exceeds the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and, for tipped employees, $2.13 per hour.

The City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, City of Las Cruces, City of Santa Fe, and Santa Fe County currently enforce their own minimum wage. Their local minimum wages are as follows:

• Effective January 1, 2022:
  • Albuquerque and La Cruces raised their minimum wage to $11.50 per hour. Tipped employee minimum wage in Albuquerque increased to $6.90 plus tips equal to $11.50 or more, while La Cruces raised its tipped employee minimum wage to $4.60 plus tips equal to $11.50 or more.
  • Bernalillo County raised its minimum wage to $9.45. However, since the State of New Mexico Workforce Solutions minimum wage supersedes Bernalillo County’s minimum wage, the minimum wage in Bernalillo County is $11.50 per hour. Tipped employee minimum wage increased to $2.80 per hour. 

• Effective March 1, 2022:
  • The City of Santa Fe raised its minimum wage to $12.95 per hour, which includes part-time and temporary employees. Tipped employee minimum wage increased to $2.80.
  • The County of Santa Fe raised its minimum wage to $12.95 per hour. Tipped employee minimum wage increased to $3.88.

Check out our whitepaper here for more information regarding New Mexico minimum wage, and as always, please reach out to Employers Council if you would like to discuss this further or have any questions.