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By Organ Mountain News on

Las Cruces minimum wage increased to $13.01 an hour on Jan. 1

The minimum wage in Las Cruces will rise to $13.01 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. Tipped employees will earn $5.20 an hour, higher than the state minimum.

News Local City of Las Cruces
Las Cruces minimum wage increased to $13.01 an hour on Jan. 1
(OpenAi / Generated for Organ Mountain News)

Tipped workers to earn $5.20 an hour as city rate again exceeds state minimum

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The minimum wage in Las Cruces rose 36 cents to $13.01 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. Tipped employees saw a 14-cent increase, bringing their minimum wage to $5.20 an hour.

The higher wage applied to employers within Las Cruces city limits. New Mexico’s statewide minimum wage remained at $12 an hour in 2026, meaning the city’s rate again exceeded the state minimum.

Las Cruces has maintained its own minimum wage since 2014. Each year, the city compares its inflation-adjusted wage with the state minimum and applies whichever rate is higher.

The city published official notices outlining the 2026 wage increase in both English and Spanish.

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