Average Laborer Salary in Mexico for 2026
A laborer in Mexico earns about 105,300 MXN a year. That's 74% below the national average of 398,300 MXN.
Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in Mexico sit around 54,180 MXN a year, while the very top stretches to 161,600 MXN. Everything on this page is in Mexican peso (MXN, symbol $), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.
The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in Mexico, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.
How much does a laborer make in Mexico?
A typical laborer working in Mexico brings home around 8,775 MXN a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 54,180 MXN, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 161,600 MXN for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.
The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior laborer working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around.
How laborer pay ranges in Mexico
A good way to think about salary in Mexico is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all laborers in Mexico earn less than 101,960 MXN a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".
Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 69,400 MXN (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 128,900 MXN (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of laborers sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.
The very lowest reported salaries sit around 54,180 MXN. The highest stretch to 161,600 MXN, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.
Laborer pay by experience in Mexico
Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a laborer in Mexico, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical laborer salary changes as you move through the career ladder.
- 0-2 Years59,660 MXN
- 2-5 Years+32% from previous78,940 MXN
- 5-10 Years+42% from previous111,900 MXN
- 10-15 Years+20% from previous134,600 MXN
- 15-20 Years+6% from previous142,300 MXN
- 20+ Years+11% from previous157,600 MXN
The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 42%. That is the point at which a laborer typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.
Laborer pay by education in Mexico
Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving laborer pay in Mexico. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.
Below is the average laborer salary in Mexico broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.
- High School72,780 MXN
- Certificate or Diploma+75% from previous127,700 MXN
Laborer gender pay gap in Mexico
The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and Mexico is no exception. Male laborers in Mexico earn an average of 113,220 MXN a year, while female laborers earn around 97,300 MXN. That works out to a 16% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.
A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.
Laborer gender pay gap
14%
Men earn this much more than women on average in Mexico.
Pay raises for a laborer in Mexico
Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.
A typical worker doing this role in Mexico sees a raise of about 8% every 19 months, which works out to roughly 5% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.
Across all jobs in Mexico, the national average raise is around 8% every 18 months.
By industry
Industries with the highest pay raises in Mexico:
- Banking
- Energy
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Travel2%
- Construction
- Education1%
By experience level
Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.
- Junior Level3% - 5%
- Mid-Career
- Senior Level
- Top Management
Laborer bonus rates in Mexico
Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.
27% of laborers in Mexico reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a laborer a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.
Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3% of base salary. The remaining 73% of laborers reported no bonus at all over the same period.
Which careers pay bonuses in Mexico
Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.
- Finance
- Architecture
- Sales
- Business Development
- Marketing / Advertising
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Customer Service
- Human Resources
- Construction
- Transport
- Hospitality
Laborer: public vs private sector pay
Public-sector pay in Mexico is about 8% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.
Public vs private pay gap
8%
Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in Mexico on average.
Laborer salary by city in Mexico
Laborer pay is not even across Mexico. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities in the dataset, followed by the full location table.
- Tijuana
- Monterrey
- Guadalajara
- Nezahualcoyotl
- Naucalpan
- Mexico City
- Zapopan
- Leon
- Ecatepec de Morelos
- Puebla
| Location | Type | Average | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tijuana | City | 143,200 MXN | 152,100 MXN | 67,900-225,300 MXN |
| Monterrey | City | 143,200 MXN | 128,900 MXN | 78,420-214,000 MXN |
| Guadalajara | City | 142,300 MXN | 148,300 MXN | 71,020-225,700 MXN |
| Nezahualcoyotl | City | 142,300 MXN | 136,200 MXN | 73,880-216,800 MXN |
| Naucalpan | City | 142,300 MXN | 142,300 MXN | 69,260-217,900 MXN |
| Mexico City | City | 142,300 MXN | 142,300 MXN | 75,040-222,300 MXN |
| Zapopan | City | 137,400 MXN | 134,600 MXN | 69,780-209,700 MXN |
| Leon | City | 137,400 MXN | 129,000 MXN | 72,700-207,700 MXN |
| Ecatepec de Morelos | City | 137,400 MXN | 137,400 MXN | 66,840-210,500 MXN |
| Puebla | City | 137,400 MXN | 143,200 MXN | 66,940-214,000 MXN |
| Chihuahua | City | 136,200 MXN | 139,100 MXN | 66,100-210,500 MXN |
| Saltillo | City | 136,100 MXN | 136,100 MXN | 65,920-208,600 MXN |
| Mexicali | City | 134,600 MXN | 125,700 MXN | 70,940-205,700 MXN |
| Chimalhuacan | City | 130,400 MXN | 128,500 MXN | 67,360-205,700 MXN |
| Toluca | City | 129,000 MXN | 118,380 MXN | 70,940-191,600 MXN |
| Aguascalientes | City | 129,000 MXN | 119,900 MXN | 69,240-196,800 MXN |
| Culiacan | City | 128,900 MXN | 138,200 MXN | 62,060-207,800 MXN |
| Tlalnepantla de Baz | City | 128,900 MXN | 119,700 MXN | 69,040-195,200 MXN |
| Queretaro | City | 128,900 MXN | 142,300 MXN | 60,180-208,600 MXN |
| Guadalupe | City | 128,900 MXN | 138,200 MXN | 62,060-207,800 MXN |
| Tlaquepaque | City | 128,500 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 66,960-195,200 MXN |
| Tuxtla Gutierrez | City | 128,500 MXN | 130,400 MXN | 61,680-201,100 MXN |
| Morelia | City | 128,500 MXN | 136,100 MXN | 61,780-205,700 MXN |
| San Luis Potosi | City | 127,700 MXN | 136,200 MXN | 59,240-200,000 MXN |
| Veracruz | City | 127,700 MXN | 119,900 MXN | 67,560-191,600 MXN |
| Acapulco | City | 127,700 MXN | 129,000 MXN | 62,420-195,200 MXN |
| Cancun | City | 125,700 MXN | 119,900 MXN | 66,480-194,600 MXN |
| Hermosillo | City | 125,700 MXN | 124,400 MXN | 65,760-195,200 MXN |
| San Nicolas de los Garza | City | 125,700 MXN | 136,100 MXN | 57,820-200,000 MXN |
| Merida | City | 125,700 MXN | 130,400 MXN | 60,880-197,600 MXN |
| Torreon | City | 125,100 MXN | 113,840 MXN | 66,680-187,300 MXN |
| Reynosa | City | 125,100 MXN | 125,100 MXN | 61,840-192,600 MXN |
| Durango | City | 124,400 MXN | 115,220 MXN | 65,800-190,500 MXN |
| Ciudad Lopez Mateos | City | 123,400 MXN | 134,600 MXN | 57,320-196,800 MXN |
| Cuautitlan Izcalli | City | 123,400 MXN | 125,700 MXN | 60,400-192,600 MXN |
| Xalapa | City | 119,900 MXN | 125,100 MXN | 58,000-190,500 MXN |
| Matamoros | City | 119,900 MXN | 117,600 MXN | 60,460-187,300 MXN |
| Irapuato | City | 119,900 MXN | 112,460 MXN | 64,200-183,600 MXN |
| Mazatlan | City | 118,520 MXN | 125,700 MXN | 54,560-189,300 MXN |
| Tepic | City | 118,380 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 58,440-187,500 MXN |
| Ciudad Victoria | City | 117,660 MXN | 107,900 MXN | 62,420-175,900 MXN |
| Villa Nicolas Romero | City | 117,520 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 52,880-183,700 MXN |
| Ixtapaluca | City | 117,380 MXN | 125,700 MXN | 52,300-187,300 MXN |
| Celaya | City | 116,780 MXN | 118,200 MXN | 58,000-183,700 MXN |
| Ciudad Santa Catarina | City | 116,540 MXN | 115,940 MXN | 58,440-180,500 MXN |
| Ciudad Apodaca | City | 115,600 MXN | 115,600 MXN | 58,240-181,600 MXN |
| Nuevo Laredo | City | 115,560 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 50,620-181,600 MXN |
| Tonala | City | 115,260 MXN | 119,020 MXN | 56,060-180,500 MXN |
| Cuernavaca | City | 115,220 MXN | 111,240 MXN | 60,160-180,300 MXN |
| Villahermosa | City | 114,380 MXN | 105,440 MXN | 61,400-172,200 MXN |
| General Escobedo | City | 113,700 MXN | 119,900 MXN | 54,180-181,600 MXN |
| Uruapan | City | 113,420 MXN | 105,800 MXN | 62,060-172,400 MXN |
| Xico | City | 113,280 MXN | 111,900 MXN | 59,380-172,200 MXN |
| Pachuca | City | 112,420 MXN | 111,240 MXN | 57,900-172,200 MXN |
| Ensenada | City | 111,860 MXN | 111,860 MXN | 55,020-172,200 MXN |
| Gomez Palacio | City | 111,240 MXN | 117,520 MXN | 49,200-172,200 MXN |
| Ciudad Obregon | City | 111,240 MXN | 107,580 MXN | 58,240-172,200 MXN |
| Los Reyes la Paz | City | 110,120 MXN | 106,360 MXN | 54,500-167,100 MXN |
| Tampico | City | 108,340 MXN | 111,000 MXN | 54,180-172,200 MXN |
| Coacalco | City | 107,900 MXN | 100,140 MXN | 58,280-164,200 MXN |
| Oaxaca | City | 107,820 MXN | 109,340 MXN | 50,660-167,100 MXN |
| Soledad de Graciano Sanchez | City | 107,320 MXN | 107,880 MXN | 52,380-167,100 MXN |
| Tehuacan | City | 106,780 MXN | 101,920 MXN | 57,320-161,300 MXN |
| Los Mochis | City | 105,620 MXN | 105,620 MXN | 53,860-161,600 MXN |
| Metepec | City | 104,920 MXN | 113,420 MXN | 49,700-167,100 MXN |
| Puerto Vallarta | City | 104,500 MXN | 104,500 MXN | 51,340-159,500 MXN |
| Nogales | City | 103,820 MXN | 98,540 MXN | 54,460-159,100 MXN |
| San Cristobal de las Casas | City | 103,140 MXN | 107,860 MXN | 49,360-161,300 MXN |
| Monclova | City | 102,960 MXN | 111,700 MXN | 49,300-164,200 MXN |
| Acuna | City | 102,960 MXN | 106,600 MXN | 50,660-161,600 MXN |
| Ojo de Agua | City | 102,620 MXN | 94,940 MXN | 54,560-158,700 MXN |
| La Paz | City | 102,240 MXN | 97,900 MXN | 51,340-157,600 MXN |
| Campeche | City | 101,920 MXN | 104,900 MXN | 47,720-158,700 MXN |
| Cholula de Rivadabia | City | 101,900 MXN | 93,340 MXN | 53,160-152,000 MXN |
| Chalco | City | 99,100 MXN | 102,720 MXN | 50,580-157,600 MXN |
| Chilpancingo | City | 99,080 MXN | 103,260 MXN | 45,000-154,700 MXN |
| Ciudad del Carmen | City | 98,960 MXN | 96,340 MXN | 53,380-152,000 MXN |
| Coatzacoalcos | City | 98,960 MXN | 96,680 MXN | 50,620-152,300 MXN |
| San Pablo de las Salinas | City | 98,820 MXN | 92,680 MXN | 51,100-151,800 MXN |
| Chicoloapan | City | 98,120 MXN | 105,080 MXN | 47,580-157,600 MXN |
| Jiutepec | City | 98,120 MXN | 98,000 MXN | 50,980-152,300 MXN |
| Buenavista | City | 97,260 MXN | 106,760 MXN | 43,760-158,700 MXN |
| Poza Rica | City | 96,960 MXN | 95,980 MXN | 48,820-150,000 MXN |
| Salamanca | City | 96,340 MXN | 99,080 MXN | 43,760-150,000 MXN |
| Tapachula | City | 96,180 MXN | 92,400 MXN | 52,180-148,300 MXN |
| Chetumal | City | 94,900 MXN | 87,760 MXN | 50,020-143,200 MXN |
| Piedras Negras | City | 93,340 MXN | 100,580 MXN | 44,300-148,300 MXN |
| Ciudad Juarez | City | 93,340 MXN | 100,580 MXN | 44,300-148,300 MXN |
| Boca del Rio | City | 93,100 MXN | 91,380 MXN | 45,260-143,200 MXN |
| San Juan del Rio | City | 92,400 MXN | 83,300 MXN | 49,820-139,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Valles | City | 91,380 MXN | 88,580 MXN | 48,140-139,100 MXN |
| Cuautla | City | 90,620 MXN | 90,620 MXN | 46,160-143,200 MXN |
| San Luis Rio Colorado | City | 90,540 MXN | 83,140 MXN | 48,920-137,400 MXN |
| Manzanillo | City | 89,340 MXN | 89,340 MXN | 44,780-138,800 MXN |
| Playa del Carmen | City | 89,340 MXN | 88,240 MXN | 45,580-138,200 MXN |
| Zacatecas | City | 89,280 MXN | 92,680 MXN | 40,640-138,800 MXN |
| Colima | City | 88,240 MXN | 91,520 MXN | 43,480-137,400 MXN |
| Cordoba | City | 87,520 MXN | 83,140 MXN | 46,400-130,400 MXN |
| Delicias | City | 86,520 MXN | 91,580 MXN | 42,040-136,200 MXN |
| Zamora de Hidalgo | City | 86,520 MXN | 86,520 MXN | 43,260-134,600 MXN |
| Iguala | City | 85,880 MXN | 84,560 MXN | 42,400-130,400 MXN |
| Minatitlan | City | 85,760 MXN | 90,540 MXN | 40,640-137,400 MXN |
| Navojoa | City | 85,440 MXN | 93,280 MXN | 38,700-137,400 MXN |
| Hidalgo del Parral | City | 84,580 MXN | 83,020 MXN | 45,620-128,900 MXN |
| Orizaba | City | 83,400 MXN | 79,360 MXN | 43,520-127,700 MXN |
| Guaymas | City | 83,140 MXN | 77,640 MXN | 46,280-127,700 MXN |
| Fresnillo | City | 82,520 MXN | 80,640 MXN | 43,260-128,500 MXN |
| San Pedro Garza Garcia | City | 80,640 MXN | 87,640 MXN | 36,020-128,900 MXN |
Laborer in Mexico: FAQs
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How much does a laborer make per month in Mexico?
A laborer in Mexico earns about 8,775 MXN a month before tax, based on an annual average of 105,300 MXN.
-
What's the salary range for a laborer in Mexico?
Entry-level laborers in Mexico start near 54,180 MXN. Top-end pay reaches around 161,600 MXN. The middle 50% of earners sit between 69,400 and 128,900 MXN.
-
Is the median laborer salary in Mexico higher or lower than the average?
The median is 101,960 MXN, lower than the average of 105,300 MXN. Half of laborers in Mexico earn below the median, half earn above it.
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What's the gender pay gap for laborers in Mexico?
Men working as a laborer in Mexico earn around 16% more than women on average (113,220 vs 97,300 MXN a year).
-
Do laborers in Mexico get bonuses?
About 27% of laborers in Mexico reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3% of base salary.
-
Do laborers earn more in the public or private sector in Mexico?
In Mexico, the public sector pays a laborer about 8% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.
-
How often do laborers in Mexico get a pay raise?
A laborer in Mexico sees a raise of around 8% every 19 months, equivalent to roughly 5% a year.