Introduction
In 2026, Mexico’s list of professional minimum wages will be under scrutiny and may see changes in the jobs, trades, and professions it includes. The employer sector, worker representatives, and federal labor authorities recently announced the creation of a Consultative Commission tasked with reviewing the list of 61 specialized professions and trades that receive higher minimum wages than the general minimum wage, according to the Federal Labor Law.
Background on Professional Minimum Wages in Mexico
The 61 professions, trades, and specialized jobs have a higher minimum wage than the general minimum wage due to their requirement for specialization and greater qualification. This figure was established in 1962, with the first amounts set in 1966 based on a manual evaluating the required level of qualification and its salary equivalent for various occupations.
Currently, the difference between professional minimum wages and the general minimum wage ranges from 0.57% to 124%, depending on the activity. The general minimum wage for 2026 is 9,582.47 pesos per month in non-border regions and 13,409.80 pesos per month in the northern border region.
Creation of the Consultative Commission
The Consultative Commission, consisting of 14 specialists—six each from the worker and employer sectors, plus Luis Munguía, head of CONASAMI, as chairman—will analyze the list to determine whether certain professions, trades, or jobs should remain or be removed. The commission’s formation was unanimously agreed upon during the December salary-fixing process and documented in Resolution Noveno of the resolution setting the current minimum wages, which took effect on January 1.
Once the creation of the Consultative Commission is published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF), the commission will officially commence its work no later than February 13. The commission may invite salary minimum experts and other functions for research and studies to strengthen internal work.
The Consultative Commission will submit a final report to the Consejo de Representantes by October 2026 at the latest.
Evolution of Professional Minimum Wages
Since the introduction of professional minimum wages, 97 professions and trades have been part of the list. Thirty-two have been removed, five have changed names, and two have merged, as per the CONASAMI Proposal for Updating the Professional Minimum Wage System.
It remains unclear if the Consultative Commission will review the professional minimum wage amounts, especially since the gap between these wages and the general minimum wage has narrowed due to policies aimed at restoring the purchasing power of the general minimum wage.
Shrinking Gap Between Professional and General Minimum Wages
In 1966, professional minimum wages were 30% higher than general minimum wages. By 2024, this gap had shrunk to just 14%. Among the 61 professions or trades, three exceed 400 pesos per day, while 58 are at the 300-peso level, close to the general minimum wage of 315.04 pesos.
The Consultative Commission will analyze the effects of salary minimum wage increases from 2017 to the present, though it has not specified the direction of this investigation. Another task is to evaluate the impact of the Monto Independiente de Recuperación (MIR) mechanism, introduced in 2016 to boost the purchasing power of the minimum wage, which was around 80.04 pesos at the time and added five pesos to the reference salary.
The MIR is one of three components used in the annual minimum wage setting process. It involves a fixed monetary amount, once agreed upon, added to the previous minimum wage before applying a percentage increase.
The reduction in the gap between general and professional minimum wages is partly due to the exclusion of MIR in the update process for professional minimum wages.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Consultative Commission’s purpose? The Consultative Commission will analyze the list of 61 professions, trades, and specialized jobs to determine if any should remain or be removed from the professional minimum wage list.
- What factors will the commission consider? The commission will evaluate the effects of salary minimum wage increases since 2017 and the impact of the Monto Independiente de Recuperación (MIR) mechanism on minimum wage purchasing power.
- How will the commission’s decisions impact the list? Based on its analysis, the commission may recommend changes to the list, including the addition or removal of certain professions, trades, or jobs.
- What is the current difference between professional and general minimum wages? The gap has narrowed from 30% in 1966 to just 14% in 2024, with some professional minimum wages exceeding 400 pesos per day.
- When will the Consultative Commission begin its work? Once published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF), the commission will officially commence its work no later than February 13, 2026.
