4 Facts About New Mexico's Minimum Wage

Minimum wage is one of the hottest political topics in the nation, and the debate continues in New Mexico.

Supporters of hiking the base level wage that businesses are legally allowed to pay employees say raising the wage will lift more workers out of poverty. Detractors believe increasing the wage will prompt companies to compensate by reducing the size of their workforce.

Here are four facts about the minimum wage in New Mexico.

Urgent: Do You Think the Minimum Wage Should Be Raised?

1. 30th in the U.S.

The minimum wage in the Land of Enchantment is currently $7.50 an hour. That figure lands New Mexico at No. 30 among all states for minimum wage. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Washington has the country’s highest minimum wage at $9.47 an hour. Oregon is next at $9.25 an hour. Washington D.C. leads the nation with a rate of $10.50 an hour.

2. Santa Fe’s Minimum Wage Hikes

Santa Fe was one of the first cities in the U.S. to raise its minimum wage beyond its state’s wage rate. Santa Fe has incrementally increased its minimum wage since 2005 in an effort to create a living wage for low-skilled workers. As of March 1, 2015, its rate is $10.84 an hour, according to GovDocs.

3. Higher Than Federal Wage

New Mexico’s rate of $7.50 an hour slightly exceeds the baseline minimum wage established by the federal government, which is $7.25 an hour, according to the Raise the Minimum Wage website.

4. Lower Than Albuquerque’s Rate

The state capital of Albuquerque has a higher minimum wage than most of the rest of the state, according to the Albuquerque Journal. In 2012, the city voted to increase the minimum wage from the statewide rate of $7.50 an hour to $8.50 an hour. The ballot measure took effect on Jan. 1, 2013. In addition, it established automatic annual increases in the minimum wage due to inflation. The minimum wage has been raised three times since 2013. The city’s present minimum wage is $8.75 an hour.

VOTE NOW: Is New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez Doing a Good Job?

Related Stories:

• How Have Minimum Wage Increases Affected Employment Levels and New Hiring?
• 4 Benefits Minimum Wage Proponents Cite to Raise It