Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in Las Cruces, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Las Cruces minimum wage: $12.00/hour | Living wage: $18.50/hour
Median household income in Las Cruces is about $50,000. The applicable minimum wage is $12.00/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $18.50/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (Las Cruces) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.00 | $24,960 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $18.50 | $38,480 |
| Median household income | $24.04 | $50,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico, in the Mesilla Valley near the Texas and Mexico borders, home to New Mexico State University, with an economy built on higher education, agriculture (especially pecans and chile), healthcare, and nearby White Sands Missile Range.
| Local Metric | Las Cruces (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 115,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Dona Ana County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 85 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $18.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $38.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $950/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,150/month |
| Median home price | $280,000 |
| Median household income | $50,000/year |
| Combined Gross Receipts Tax rate | 8.31% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.8% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $50,000 salary in Las Cruces is about $24.04/hour at full time.
Median household income in Las Cruces is around $50,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 85 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $950/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in Las Cruces is $12.00/hour, which is about $24,960/year at full time. Las Cruces follows the New Mexico statewide minimum wage of $12.00/hour as the baseline for most employers.
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Dona Ana County needs about $18.50/hour, roughly $38,480/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $50,000/year is about $24.04/hour, $4,167/month gross, and $1,923 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.