Employment & Worker Protection · New Mexico
New Mexico Minimum Wage Act
NMSA 50-4-22 - enacted in New Mexico.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 17/100
- New Mexico strictness
The bottom line
New Mexico Minimum Wage Act is an enacted law in New Mexico, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2023-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 17/100
- New Mexico strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official New Mexico legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: New Mexico Minimum Wage Act
New Mexico Minimum Wage Act (NMSA 50-4-22) is an enacted law in New Mexico under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-03-08 and becomes effective on 2023-01-01. New Mexico currently reports 1 tracked regulations with 1 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 17/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places New Mexico within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in NMSA 50-4-22 itself.
Applicability under New Mexico Minimum Wage Act: All NM employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Labor Relations Division enforcement. Civil penalties. Notable exemptions: Student workers (limited), commission-based employees..
Summary
New Mexico minimum wage $12.00/hr statewide. Albuquerque and Santa Fe set higher local rates. Tipped: $3.00/hr.
Key Requirements
$12.00/hr statewide. Tipped: $3.00/hr + tips. Local ordinances allowed (Albuquerque $13.62, Santa Fe $16.20+).
Penalties
Labor Relations Division enforcement. Civil penalties.
Applicability
All NM employers.
Exemptions
Student workers (limited), commission-based employees.
How New Mexico compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - New Mexico ranks #45 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. New Mexico is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was New Mexico Minimum Wage Act enacted?
New Mexico Minimum Wage Act was enacted on 2019-03-08 and became effective on 2023-01-01. It was introduced as NMSA 50-4-22.
What are the penalties for violating New Mexico Minimum Wage Act?
Labor Relations Division enforcement. Civil penalties. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does New Mexico Minimum Wage Act apply to small businesses?
All NM employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does New Mexico compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
New Mexico has a regulatory strictness score of 17/100, based on 1 enacted regulation out of 1 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of New Mexico Minimum Wage Act?
The official text of New Mexico Minimum Wage Act (NMSA 50-4-22) is available from the New Mexico legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- New Mexico Minimum Wage Act is enacted in New Mexico, effective 2023-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; New Mexico ranks #45 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation New Mexico tracks across all five policy areas. New Mexico profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official New Mexico source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.