Albuquerque Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Albuquerque is $12.00 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by the local ordinance and is the same as the New Mexico statewide minimum of $12.00 and $4.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Rates and sources checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Current rate (October 30, 2026)
$12.00
In effect since January 1, 2026
2027 status: Scheduled
$13.00
Effective January 1, 2027
Compared with New Mexico
Same as the state rate
New Mexico statewide rate $12.00; federal $7.25
Albuquerque minimum wage rates
| Group | Rate on October 30, 2026 | Since | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All employees | $12.00 | January 1, 2026 | $13.00 |
| Employees whose employer provides healthcare or childcare benefits (at least $2,500.00 a year) | $12.00 | January 1, 2026 | $12.00 on January 1, 2027 |
| Tipped employees (cash wage) | $7.20 | January 1, 2026 | $7.20 on January 1, 2027 |
Set by Albuquerque Minimum Wage Ordinance (Albuquerque Code of Ordinances Article 13-12). Administered by the City of Albuquerque Legal Department.
Albuquerque minimum wage in 2027: Scheduled
The city's notice lists $13.00 per hour from January 1, 2027, up from $12.00 (8.3 percent), and $12.00 for employees whose employer provides healthcare or childcare benefits worth at least $2,500.00 a year. The tipped minimum stays $7.20. That is $1.00 above the New Mexico minimum wage of $12.00.
The ordinance text posted on the city site adjusts the rate each January 1 by the August-to-August change in the CPI-W, rounded to the nearest five cents, and requires the city to publish the next year's rate on its home page by October 15.
Tipped workers
Tips and commissions that a tipped employee receives and keeps may be credited toward part of the minimum wage, but only if the employer tells the employee in advance in writing, pays at least the tipped cash wage ($7.20 per hour in 2026 and 2027) and can show with a tip declaration or records that cash wages plus tips reach the full minimum wage. Tips belong to the employee, and pooling among tipped employees is allowed.
Who is covered
An employee is anyone who performs work for an employer for pay for at least two hours in a given week within the municipal limits of Albuquerque, full-time, part-time, seasonal or temporary. An employer is one required to have an Albuquerque business license or registration, including the City of Albuquerque itself.
Tiers and exceptions
- The ordinance text on the city site excludes anyone excluded from the definition of employee under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act (subsections 50-4-21(c)(3) to (5) and (7), though city employees are covered), interns working for academic credit, work-study employees of an accredited school, and anyone holding a certificate from the state labor commissioner.
- The 2027 notice calls the $7.20 tipped rate 55.5 percent of the 2027 minimum wage, while the city's page says 55 percent, and the ordinance text posted on the city site still says 60 percent. 55.5 percent of $13.00 rounds to $7.20 at the nearest five cents, which is the figure both city documents print. Confirm the percentage with the city.
- In 2026 the city's table shows $12.00, the same as the New Mexico statewide minimum, so the city rate is not above the state rate until January 1, 2027.
Albuquerque compared with New Mexico and the federal minimum
| Minimum wage | October 30, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $12.00 | $13.00 |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Federal | $7.25 | $7.25 |
Employers must pay the highest rate that applies. See the New Mexico minimum wage page for the statewide rules.
Albuquerque rate history
| Effective | All employees |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | $12.00 |
| January 1, 2027 (scheduled) | $13.00 |
Employees whose employer provides healthcare or childcare benefits (at least $2,500.00 a year)
- January 1, 2026$12.00
- January 1, 2027 (scheduled)$12.00
Tipped employees (cash wage)
- January 1, 2026$7.20
- January 1, 2027 (scheduled)$7.20
Albuquerque minimum wage pay calculator
| Gross pay | Albuquerque ($12.00) | New Mexico ($12.00) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly pay | $480.00 | $480.00 | $0.00 |
| Yearly pay | $24,960.00 | $24,960.00 | $0.00 |
Gross pay before taxes, paid straight time for every hour entered. The Albuquerque rate is the general rate for the group named above; tipped, youth and other groups follow the rules listed on this page.
What the official sources say
“EMPLOYEE. Any person who performs work for an employer for monetary compensation for at least two hours in a given week within the municipal limits of the city.”
“EMPLOYEE shall not include interns working for an employer for academic credit in connection with a course of study at an accredited school, college or university or employees working for an accredited school, college or university pursuant to a work-study program while attending that school, college or university.”
“The City of Albuquerque Minimum Wage Ordinance requires the City to post the adjusted minimum wage and the adjusted tipped minimum wage for the forthcoming year on the City’s internet home page each year by October 15.”
“Effective January 1, 2027, the City of Albuquerque minimum wage is $13.00 per hour.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Albuquerque in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Albuquerque is $12.00 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by Albuquerque Minimum Wage Ordinance (Albuquerque Code of Ordinances Article 13-12) and administered by the City of Albuquerque Legal Department.
Will the Albuquerque minimum wage go up in 2027?
The city's notice lists $13.00 per hour from January 1, 2027, up from $12.00 (8.3 percent), and $12.00 for employees whose employer provides healthcare or childcare benefits worth at least $2,500.00 a year. The tipped minimum stays $7.20. That is $1.00 above the New Mexico minimum wage of $12.00.
How does the Albuquerque minimum wage compare with the New Mexico and federal minimums?
The New Mexico statewide minimum is $12.00, the same as the Albuquerque rate today. The city rate is scheduled to rise above it, as the 2027 comparison on this page shows. The federal minimum is $7.25. An employer must pay the highest rate that applies.
Who is covered by the Albuquerque minimum wage?
An employee is anyone who performs work for an employer for pay for at least two hours in a given week within the municipal limits of Albuquerque, full-time, part-time, seasonal or temporary. An employer is one required to have an Albuquerque business license or registration, including the City of Albuquerque itself.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Albuquerque?
Tips and commissions that a tipped employee receives and keeps may be credited toward part of the minimum wage, but only if the employer tells the employee in advance in writing, pays at least the tipped cash wage ($7.20 per hour in 2026 and 2027) and can show with a tip declaration or records that cash wages plus tips reach the full minimum wage. Tips belong to the employee, and pooling among tipped employees is allowed.
Are there different rates or exceptions in Albuquerque?
Employees whose employer provides healthcare or childcare benefits (at least $2,500.00 a year): $12.00; Tipped employees (cash wage): $7.20. The ordinance text on the city site excludes anyone excluded from the definition of employee under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act (subsections 50-4-21(c)(3) to (5) and (7), though city employees are covered), interns working for academic credit, work-study employees of an accredited school, and anyone holding a certificate from the state labor commissioner.
Sources for Albuquerque
- City of Albuquerque: Albuquerque Minimum Wage Information
- City of Albuquerque: Notice Regarding 2027 Minimum Wage Rate
- City of Albuquerque: Minimum Wage Ordinance (Article 13-12)
Sources checked October 30, 2026.
The ordinance text posted on the city site shows a 60 percent tipped rate; 60 percent of $12.00 is $7.20, the 2026 tipped figure in the city table, while the 2027 notice uses a different percentage. The rates and dates on this page come from the notice and the city page.