Current Minimum Wage
Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas)$12.00since January 1, 2026

County (unincorporated areas) · New Mexico

Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage

$12.00 an hour as of October 3, 2026. The New Mexico state rate is $12.00.

  • The Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage is $12.00 an hour (all employers...), effective .
  • At $12.00 an hour, 40 hours a week for 52 weeks is $24,960 before taxes.
  • That equals the New Mexico state rate.
  • The next change is : an indexed adjustment, amount to be announced.
  • Coverage: Employees working in unincorporated Bernalillo County (outside Albuquerque and other municipalities).

Calculate weekly and annual pay at $12.00

Rates and tiers

TierRateSince
all employers...$12.00

Indexing

Yes
annual adjustment under the county ordinance (series not stated on poster) adjusts 01-01 announced Bernalillo County Board of County Commissioners

Tipped

$3.00
County poster: tipped employees receive the state minimum of $3.00 cash; employer makes up any shortfall to $12.00.

Ordinance

Bernalillo County Code ch. 2, art
Ordinance text · Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services (required workplace postings)

Scheduled increases

January 1, 20271 jurisdiction
CountyTBA
Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas), NMall employers · indexed-unannounced · County ordinance rate adjusts annually but remains below the state $12.00.
TBAindexed, amount to be announced

County poster dated May 21, 2026: 'Effective January 1, 2026, the Bernalillo County minimum wage is $10.95. However, the State of New Mexico ... minimum wage supersedes ... $12.00 per hour.' New Mexico state minimum wage $12.00 (tipped $3.00) since...

Common questions

What is the Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage?

$12.00 an hour for all employers..., effective January 1, 2026.

Is the Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage higher than the New Mexico state minimum wage?

It is $12.00; the state rate is $12.00.

When does the Bernalillo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage change next?

On January 1, 2027, by an indexed amount to be announced.

Sources

  1. https://www.bernco.gov/planning/for-business-owners/required-workplace-postings/ official
  2. https://www.bernco.gov/planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/58/2026/05/Min-Wage-Ordinance-May-21-2026-English-updated.png official
  3. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/

Checked 2026-09-02; researcher confidence 0.88.