LAS CRUCES, NM – In accordance with the Las Cruces Municipal Code (LCMC), the minimum wage will increase in the city effective January 1, 2025.
According to LCMC, the minimum wage in Las Cruces will increase to $12.65 per hour and the tipped wage will increase to $5.06 per hour.
The Las Cruces City Council reported that in 2014, the city enacted ordinance 2726 that established a minimum wage, tipped wage and annual increases for that region of New Mexico.
From 2015 to 2019, the minimum wage amount was a fixed figure, but beginning in 2020, both the minimum wage and tipped wage increases were tied to the consumer price index, according to the ordinance.
Effective January 1, 2020, the state enacted the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act. Each year in September, the minimum wage and tipped wage is calculated according to the city ordinance and compared to the minimum wage and tipped wage established by the state of New Mexico. According to the City Council, the higher of the two wages is adopted.
In 2020, the city’s minimum wage was higher than the state’s, so the city’s minimum wage was adopted; from 2021 to 2023, the state’s minimum wage has been higher.
The tipped wage calculated by city ordinance has always been higher than the state’s, the City Council noted.
In 2024, the state minimum wage remained at $12. However, the city of Las Cruces’ minimum wage increased, based on the consumer price index and the city ordinance adopting the higher amount between the state minimum wage and the minimum wage.
By 2025, the state minimum wage will again remain at $12. The City of Las Cruces minimum wage will increase, based on the consumer price index and the city ordinance adopting the higher of the state or Las Cruces minimum wage.
