New York state’s minimum wage increased on Jan. 1, marking the third straight year of increases. In New York City, Westchester and Long Island, the wage increased to $17 per hour, and in the rest of the state to $16 per hour.
This adjustment of $.50 per hour is part of a planned series of increases, which will be indexed to inflation starting in 2027.
“From the tip of Montauk to Niagara Falls, this increase reflects our promise to put money back in New Yorkers pockets and uplift our hard workers,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “By continuing these investments and indexing wages to inflation, we’re making sure New Yorkers can keep up with rising costs by taking home more money.”
“As costs rise, wages must keep pace,” State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who represents parts of Queens and is chair of the committee on labor, said. “Indexing the minimum wage to inflation was not radical, it was responsible, and it’s how we make sure that work is rewarded with dignity today and in the years ahead.”
The ability for the state to increase its minimum wages traces its roots back to a 2023 agreement between Hochul and the state legislature. Minimum wage was also boosted by $0.50 per hour in 2024 and 2025. Starting in 2027, the minimum wage will increase annually at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the Northeast Region — the most accurate regional measure of inflation.
The state’s Department of Labor is working to educate employers and employees about wage changes. It offers free education seminars to help employers better understand labor laws and ensure compliance.
Workers can visit the Department of Labor’s minimum wage webpage for more information, including an interactive minimum wage lookup tool to verify their correct pay rate. If you earn minimum wage and do not see an increase reflected in your paycheck, wage complaints can be filed at DOL.NY.gov or by calling (833) 910-4378.
“With costs rising, this increase is crucial for workers looking to make ends meet,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said.
