Baja California Sur has now become Mexico's state with the highest salaries. During the last few years, construction and hospitality jobs have steadily increased more here than in similar occupations in other parts of the country. And word of mouth in today's social media apps and websites travels fast which has attracted more and more people to Los Cabos for work.
The Ministry of Economy (SE) and the National Employment Service (SNE) reported that Baja California Sur leads the national level in salaries, with a monthly average of 13,823.89 pesos. According to Omar Zavala Agúndez, head of the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Development, the economic dynamism of the state, particularly in Los Cabos, has allowed salaries to be extremely competitive, highlighting the construction trade as one of the best-paid in Mexico.
According to the SE, the highest salaries in this type of employment are found in Baja California Sur, Nayarit and Quintana Roo. In these regions, architects and civil engineers earn an average income of more than 34,000 pesos, while bricklayers take home at least 17,000 pesos per month.
“Today the minimum wage in BCS ranges between $248 - $500 pesos per day. BCS has always been characterized by having good salaries. In that sense, both Coneval and INEGI mention that one of the jobs with the best salary is construction. This is due to the magnitude of the construction of hotels and condominiums. The important thing is that Baja California Sur is recognized nationally among the 10 best,” said Zavala Agúndez.
Another sector where competitive salaries are recorded is the hotel and food industry, where income varies between 17,000 and 30,000 pesos per month. This salary range reflects the high demand for trained personnel in key areas of the restaurant and food service industry, especially in popular tourist destinations such as Los Cabos.
Young people have left their hometowns with hopes of taking advantage of these higher-paying jobs. Many have arrived knowing they will be sending money home to their families. They rent modest places in the surrounding neighborhoods where rent is cheap and affordable.
Some construction workers even gang bust a residence and live with up to six people in an apartment. This leaves them a substantial amount to send home while enjoying their modest lifestyle in Los Cabos.
The construction work opportunities are not just limited to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Young people also commute together to Los Barriles and even as far away as La Ribera for the week and return home on the weekend.
Others, of course, love it here and have chosen to stay knowing they will have continuing employment as our region keeps chugging along with expensive homes and condos and the construction of new buildings like the recent Woolworths and Soriana that are nearing completion.
Blue-collar workers are making more than blue-collar workers everywhere else in Mexico and of course, so are hospitality professionals, timeshare sales workers and supervisors in every business operating in BCS.
As of January 1, 2025, the minimum wage throughout Mexico will be increased by 12 percent. It is mandatory for all employees making minimum wage, and optional for the rest. The new salary, at today’s rate of exchange, will be 278.80 pesos (about US $13.73) for an 8-hour shift. Cities close to the US border will have a slightly higher wage, of 419.88 pesos (about US $20.68) per day.!
