Glossary · 3 min read
Minimum wage in Mexico: how much it is and how it is used
Short answer
The minimum wage is the least a person can receive for a workday. In 2026 it is $315.04 per day in most of the country and $440.87 in the Northern Border Free Zone.
Equivalents of the 2026 general wage
- Per hour, on an 8-hour workday: $39.38.
- Per 30-day month: $9,451.20.
Who sets it
The National Minimum Wage Commission. It changes every January 1.
With the reduction in working hours
The daily wage does not go down even if hours go down, so the value of the hour goes up.
How to do the math by hand
With a monthly salary of $12,000, the daily salary is 12,000 ÷ 30 = $400. On a day shift the hour is worth 400 ÷ 8 = $50; on a night shift, 400 ÷ 7 = $57.14.
Why everything starts with the working-time record
Almost every labor calculation starts from the same data point: how many hours and which days each person worked. If that data is uncertain, so is everything else.
- Overtime: it is paid according to the hours of each week.
- Sunday premium and rest days worked: they depend on which days were worked.
- Aguinaldo and profit sharing: they use the days worked in the year.
- Labor lawsuits: the company must prove the working time.
Since 2026, the Federal Labor Law requires that record to be electronic, per person, with start and end time.
Common mistakes
- Using the UMA or minimum wage value from a previous year.
- Confusing daily salary, integrated salary and contribution base salary.
- Calculating benefits without knowing the days actually worked.
- Taking the legal minimums as if they were the maximum.
- Not keeping the backup of the calculation.
What to do now
- Confirm the current value for the year.
- Have each person's daily salary at hand.
- Check the days and hours worked in your record.
- Do the math and keep it.
- Validate it with your accountant.
Related terms
What is NOM-037 on telework. NOM-037 sets the safety and health conditions for telework.
What is the integrated daily salary (SDI). The integrated daily salary adds to the daily-rate salary the benefits the person receives, such as aguinaldo and vacation premium.
What is the Federal Labor Law (LFT). The Federal Labor Law governs the relationships between companies and workers in Mexico: working hours, salary, rest, benefits and termination.
Frequently asked questions
Are there minimum wages by trade?
Yes. There are professional minimum wages for certain trades.
Can I use this for my payroll?
It works as a reference. Your accountant should do or validate the payroll calculation.
Where does the data come from?
From the Federal Labor Law and from the official values published by INEGI and the National Minimum Wage Commission.
Do these values change every year?
Yes. The UMA is updated every February 1 and the minimum wage every January 1. Always confirm the current value.
Are the amounts gross or net?
Gross. They do not account for taxes or social security contributions.
Legal basis and sources
- Salary: articles 82 to 90 of the LFT.
- Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week. Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026.
- Federal Labor Law, current text. Chamber of Deputies.
How we write this content. The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant.