Effective with the City of Las Cruces’ first pay period in 2022, the lowest entry-level wage for regular full- or part-time City employees whose positions are included in the City’s non-union represented, and Blue Collar represented, pay table will increase from $11 to $15 an hour.
The increase in wages will exceed New Mexico’s new $11.50 per hour minimum wage that begins Jan. 1, 2022. The state’s minimum wage will increase from $10.50 to $11.50.
The lowest wage on the existing pay table referenced is $11 per hour. The $4 per hour increase will also be applied to all salary grades to address issues with compression between the grades.
The City’s Human Resources Department initiated a study in 2021 to review the impact of implementing the increases to these regular positions within City government.
The study provided options to increase the lowest paid positions to more than the $11.50 state minimum wage requirement and to consider adjustments to correct compression of an employees’ pay in their salary band.
City employees that are not at the entry level of their adjusted pay grade will be brought to at least the entry level of the salary grade. Adjustments also may be made to account for an employee’s time in a position to address compression.
Not all City employees will see an adjustment if they are already at a pay rate more than the new minimum of the salary grade and an adjustment is not needed for compression.
City employees who will receive a change in pay will be individually notified by email no later than Jan. 3, 2022. Any salary increases will begin to be reflected in pay checks City employees will receive on Jan. 6, 2022.
Altogether, the City of Las Cruces has more than 1,300 employees.
For information, call Jo Richards, Director of Human Resources, at 575/528-3100.