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Minimum Wage in New York

New York's minimum wage in 2026 is $17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 in the rest of the state, with tipped food service cash wages of $11.35 and $10.70.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New York at a glance

Minimum wage (per hour)
$17.00 NYC area; $16.00 rest of state
$17.00 applies in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties; $16.00 elsewhere. The number shown is the lower statewide rate.
Tipped cash wage (per hour)
$11.35 NYC area; $10.70 rest of state
Food service workers only. Other tipped service employees get $14.15 (NYC area) or $13.30 (rest of state).
Next scheduled increase
No increase on January 1, 2027
Indexing to inflation starts in 2027, but the state labor department says an off-ramp condition was met, so there is no 2027 inflation increase.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New York

What is the minimum wage in New York in 2026?

Minimum wage (per hour) in New York: $17.00 NYC area; $16.00 rest of state. $17.00 applies in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties; $16.00 elsewhere. The number shown is the lower statewide rate.

What is the minimum cash wage for tipped employees in New York?

Tipped cash wage (per hour) in New York: $11.35 NYC area; $10.70 rest of state. Food service workers only. Other tipped service employees get $14.15 (NYC area) or $13.30 (rest of state).

When is the next minimum wage increase in New York?

Next scheduled increase in New York: No increase on January 1, 2027. Indexing to inflation starts in 2027, but the state labor department says an off-ramp condition was met, so there is no 2027 inflation increase.

Where do the New York minimum wage laws come from?

The rules above come from N.Y. Lab. Law 652. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Check which rate applies before setting pay. Coverage rules, employer size thresholds, and exemptions for certain jobs or industries differ, and a local ordinance may require more than the state rate. The statute linked on each state page is the starting point.

Where a lower tipped cash wage is allowed, the employer usually must make up the difference whenever tips fall short of the full minimum wage for the pay period. Keeping accurate records of hours worked and tips reported helps show that every pay period met the minimum.

Rates can change on fixed dates, often January 1 or July 1, and some states adjust them each year for inflation. Reviewing pay rates, offer letters, and employment contracts ahead of each scheduled change helps avoid underpayment claims.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.