Short answer. City of Santa Fe: the living wage rises to $17.50 an hour effective January 1, 2027, a one-time legislative step; annual adjustments under a new formula start March 1, 2028.
$17.50
Santa Fe minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$2.10, 13.6%)
Santa Fe minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $17.50 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $15.40 an hour from March 1, 2026
- Change
- +$2.10 an hour (13.6%)
- New Mexico rate, 2027
- $12.00 an hour
- Santa Fe above New Mexico
- $5.50 an hour (45.8%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- City ordinance
- Official page
- City of Santa Fe: living wage in the City of Santa Fe
Santa Fe rate history: 2026 to 2027
City of Santa Fe: living wage $15.40 an hour from March 1, 2026, for all employers within the city limits. City of Santa Fe: the living wage rises to $17.50 an hour effective January 1, 2027, a one-time legislative step; annual adjustments under a new formula start March 1, 2028. That is $2.10 more an hour, a 13.6% increase, for hours worked in Santa Fe on or after January 1, 2027.
Who the Santa Fe rate covers
All employers within Santa Fe city limits. Employers may count tips for employees who customarily earn $100 a month or more in tips or commission, with a base wage of $3.00 an hour; some Medicaid-funded nonprofits are exempt.
Santa Fe compared with the New Mexico minimum wage
The New Mexico general rate is $12.00 in 2026 and $12.00 in 2027. Santa Fe's $17.50 is $5.50 an hour, or 45.8%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $3.40. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $11,440 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See New Mexico in the minimum wage by state table.
What the Santa Fe rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Santa Fe minimum, before taxes. Hours over 40 are paid at time and a half under federal overtime rules. A full-time year of 2,080 hours comes to about $36,400 at the 2027 rate, against $32,032 at the 2026 rate and $24,960 at the New Mexico 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Santa Fe 2026 | Santa Fe 2027 | Difference | New Mexico 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $616.00 | $700.00 | +$84.00 | $480.00 |
| Part time, 25 hours | $385.00 | $437.50 | +$52.50 | $300.00 |
| 45 hours (5 at time and a half) | $731.50 | $831.25 | +$99.75 | $570.00 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the New Mexico rate; compare its results with Santa Fe's $17.50 for anyone who works in Santa Fe.
Updating payroll for Santa Fe
- List everyone who works in Santa Fe and is paid under $17.50 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- Set the new rate in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it so hours before the date stay at $15.40.
- Replace the Santa Fe minimum wage notice with the 2027 version from the official page.
For the New Mexico rules beyond the local minimum wage (new hire reporting, unemployment tax, final pay and more), the New Mexico Employer Compliance Kit 2027 ($19) has a checklist, a deadline calendar and an Excel tracker.
Other local rates in New Mexico
- Las Cruces: $13.47 from January 1, 2027
- 1 more with 2027 not yet announced, in the local minimum wage table
Official sources for Santa Fe
- City of Santa Fe: living wage in the City of Santa Fe (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official Santa Fe pages above. A city or county can change a rate after we check, and coverage, employer-size rules and exemptions differ from place to place. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate with the local labor standards office, your payroll provider or an employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Santa Fe minimum wage questions
What is the Santa Fe minimum wage in 2027?
$17.50 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $15.40. City of Santa Fe: the living wage rises to $17.50 an hour effective January 1, 2027, a one-time legislative step; annual adjustments under a new formula start March 1, 2028.
How does the Santa Fe minimum wage compare with the New Mexico rate?
In 2027, Santa Fe is $5.50 an hour (45.8%) above the New Mexico rate of $12.00. In 2026 the gap was $3.40. Employers pay the Santa Fe rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Santa Fe minimum wage job in 2027?
$700.00 a week for 40 hours, or about $36,400 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $84.00 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
Who does the Santa Fe minimum wage cover?
All employers within Santa Fe city limits. Employers may count tips for employees who customarily earn $100 a month or more in tips or commission, with a base wage of $3.00 an hour; some Medicaid-funded nonprofits are exempt.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · New Mexico minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state