“Every Cent Counts” – Minimum Wage To Increase In NY, NJ and Connecticut
The minimum wage in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, three of the states with the largest Jewish population, is set to rise.
The “Tri-State” minimum wage hovers at $15-16 far higher than the federal rate of $7.25 per hour. And it must increase based on inflation, based on the state laws.
New York
In New York, employees are entitled to receive an hourly Minimum Wage rate according to the Labor Laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rate is tied to a formula based on the federal Consumer Price Index. But can be changed based on certain economic winds.
In New York City, Long Island County, and Westchester County, the minimum wage will increase to $16.50 an hour on Jan 1, 2025. The current wage, which went into effect at the start of the year, is $16.00 per hour.
In areas outside New York City, Long Island County, and Westchester County, which includes heavily Jewish Rockland and Sullivan counties, the minimum wage will increase to $15.50 an hour, up from $15.
The 2025 increases will be followed by another $0.50 increase in 2026.
| Location | Minimum Wage as of 01/01/2024** | Minimum Wage as of 01/01/2025** | Tipped Service Employees as of 01/01/2025* | Tipped Food Service Workers as of 01/01/2025* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $16.00 | $16.50 | $13.75 Cash Wage, $2.75 Tip Credit | $11.00 Cash Wage, $5.50 Tip Credit |
| Long Island & Westchester | $16.00 | $16.50 | $13.75 Cash Wage, $2.75 Tip Credit | $10.65 Cash Wage, $5.35 Tip Credit |
| Remainder of New York State | $15.00 | $15.50 | $12.90 Cash Wage, $2.60 Tip Credit | $10.35 Cash Wage, $5.15 Top Credit |
“In this current era of inflation and rising costs, every cent counts for all New Yorkers,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “Especially workers who earn minimum wage. By gradually increasing wages for the lowest earners, we are ensuring businesses can adjust to the change while also helping more families make ends meet. I want to thank Governor Hochul and the Legislature for working together to strengthen the paychecks of New Yorkers statewide.”
New Jersey
On the opposite side of the Hudson River, New Jersey’s minimum wage for most workers will increase by 36 cents to $15.49 an hour (up from $15.13 per hour in 2024).
New Jersey’s minimum wage was $8.60 an hour until legislation signed by NJ Gov. Phil Murphy in 2019 began to gradually raise it to the current rate of $15.13, with staggered increases each year.
Connecticut
Like NY and NJ, Connecticut’s minimum wage will go up to $16.35 an hour in the new year, up 4.2% — the highest in New England. The rate is likewise based on the Consumer Price Index.
Connecticut workers and employers can anticipate that announcements will be made by October 15 of each year declaring the change in the minimum wage that will become effective on January 1 of the approaching year.
Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo reported that the employment cost index increased by 4.2% over the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 2024, accounting for a $0.66 increase to the state’s minimum wage that will become effective on January 1, 2025.
“This law that we enacted ensures that as the economy grows, the wages of low-income workers can grow with it,” Governor Lamont said. “This is a fair, modest adjustment for workers who will invest their earnings right back into our economy and support local businesses in their communities.”
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