El Paso seeks US$15 per hour minimum wage for City employees

EL PASO, TX – With the goal of cultivating an environment conducive to sound economic development, on March 14, the El Paso City Council discussed a proposal to increase the minimum wage for City employees to $15 per hour by the end of fiscal year 2026.

During the discussion, a goal was established to reach a minimum hourly wage of $15 for City of El Paso employees by the end of fiscal year 2026; and that the City Council will monitor progress toward that goal, considering future increases to ensure that workers can earn a wage that allows them to support themselves and their families.

MIT’s Living Wage Calculator suggests that a single adult in El Paso in 2023 would need to earn at least $14.67 per hour to cover basic expenses. Increasing the minimum wage can provide benefits that allow employees to support themselves and their families to strengthen employee morale and increase productivity.

The City of El Paso recognized the importance of providing employees with a living wage that allows them to support themselves and their families.

The current minimum hourly wage for City of El Paso employees is $12.11, below a true living wage in El Paso; and the increase can provide benefits such as increasing purchasing power, circulating more dollars in the local economy, reducing poverty and inequality, and improving employee morale and productivity.

The City Council reported that it has already taken steps to increase the minimum hourly wage for City of El Paso employees, including a total increase of $1.00 per hour (approximately 9%) during the fiscal year 2023.