Real Wages, Working Hours, Benefits, and Labor Conditions in Mexico vs. The United States, Spain, and Other OECD Countries
Maquiladora work is an economic engine behind global manufacturing supply chains. Multinational firms manufacture products at scale and at low enough costs to satisfy investors and shareholders worldwide. Wages, working hours, and labor protections for maquila operators, however, differ from country to country in significant and consequential ways. This brief guide compares and explains how much maquila operators are paid, how many hours they work, and why there is a structural wage gap between Mexico and developed economies today.
Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the OECD, and international labor agencies all show maquila operators in Mexico earn far less, work more hours, and have fewer protections than in the U.S. or Europe. What Is a Maquila Operator?
A maquila operator is a factory worker who performs repetitive tasks on a production line or within export processing facilities. The work is common to the following industrial sectors:
- Automotive manufacturing
- Electronics
- Medical devices
- Textile and garment manufacturing
- Auto parts and components
Typical duties include operating equipment, assembling parts, visual inspection of components, packaging of finished products, and performing basic quality control and assurance checks. Maquila work is not considered highly skilled. Labor force participation rates are high, but there is a structural difference in wages between skilled and unskilled labor, and this divide has an outsized impact on maquiladoras in Mexico.
How Much Does a Maquila Operator in Mexico Earn in 2025?
The average maquila operator in Mexico in 2025 makes between:
- MXN $7,500 and $11,000 per month, depending on the region and industry
- MXN $42 to $65 estimated hourly pay
- 48-hour work week
- Overtime (night or rotating shifts) is common.
INEGI’s publicly available data also shows that over 60% of maquila workers are still making one to two minimum wages, even within top export-driven industries like automotive and electronics. After decades of productivity gains and export record-breaking years, wages in Mexican maquiladoras have not kept pace with international averages.
Mexico vs. OECD Countries International Comparison
The United States
- USD $2,800 to $3,800 per month
- USD $16–22 per hour
- 40-hour standard work week
- Access to employer-sponsored health insurance, paid vacation, paid overtime, and legal protections against unsafe working conditions
Labor unions in the U.S. have less of a presence within export-oriented industries than in Spain, but manufacturing operators often do the same work as in Mexico for many more dollars.
Spain
- EUR €1,400–€1,800 per month
- EUR €9–12 per hour
- 40-hour legal work week
- Production work is often protected by strong collective bargaining agreements with a robust union presence and extensive worker protections under EU labor standards.
Labor standards enforced by the EU and the Spanish state, such as working hour caps, paid leave, sick time, and severance, often result in overall lower wages but significantly better social and health outcomes for workers.
OECD Average
- USD $15–20 per industrial hour worked
- Shorter working hours and a higher level of automation in the most advanced manufacturing nations
- Lower labor turnover rates result in less precarious working conditions and better job stability
As an important global manufacturing hub, Mexico is among the lowest-paid industrial labor markets within the OECD. The low-cost labor environment, which has attracted enormous foreign investment over the past several decades, has made it difficult for wages in maquiladoras in Mexico to improve significantly.
Working Hours and Conditions
In Mexico’s maquila plants:
- Shifts can last from 8 to 12 hours or more.
- Night work and rotating schedules are common.
- Production rhythms can be very intense, especially as export deadlines approach.
- Worker turnover can be high, and there is significant physical demand on workers.
OECD countries enforce strict limits on overtime and short daily work hours, and mandate that employers respect ergonomic standards and safe working conditions. These fundamental differences in working conditions not only lead to higher wages in other countries but also to better long-term health for workers.
Benefits and Social Protections: Mexico and the OECD
In Mexico
- Mandatory IMSS (Social Security) enrollment, with limited benefits and coverage
- Legally required vacation days are minimal, and most workers are not provided with any vacation at all
- Productivity and results-based bonuses are not mandated or guaranteed
- Unions are not strong across the board, and in some export plants, they have very little bargaining power
In OECD Countries
- Health insurance, often covering the whole family, is standard and legally mandated
- Paid parental and sick leave are often provided.
- Collective bargaining is strong, and legal protections exist against arbitrary dismissal and other unfair labor practices.
It is not only wages that matter, but also the overall quality of employment that maquiladoras in Mexico offer compared to other developed countries.
Why Is There a Wage Gap?
Labor economists point out four major structural factors behind the sustained wage gap:
- An economic development model built around low labor costs to attract foreign investment
- Weak and fragmented union representation
- Competition among developing countries for international manufacturing contracts
- Less strict enforcement of labor law and regulations
Minimum wage increases in recent years have helped to improve the baseline incomes of maquila workers, but have not shifted Mexico’s underlying position within the global manufacturing value chain.
Can Wages Improve for Maquila Operators?
There is a broad consensus among labor experts, economists, and stakeholders that there are steps the Mexican government and private sector can take to improve wages for maquila operators. These include:
- Salary increases linked to productivity increases
- Stronger labor inspections and enforcement
- Real union empowerment
- Transition toward higher value-added manufacturing
Without significant changes across all areas, maquiladoras in Mexico will continue to be attractive to foreign investors for their low labor costs, not because of their commitment to workers or long-term income mobility.
Conclusion
Maquila operators in Mexico are an essential part of global production chains, and yet they earn less than what factory workers make in the United States, Spain, and other OECD countries. The gap is not the result of worker effort or skill level, but is the product of economic and regulatory choices. So long as this status quo remains unchanged, Mexico’s maquila sector will continue to focus on cost-driven competitiveness rather than shared prosperity for the workers who keep factories operational.