Minimum Wage/New York
New York Minimum Wage 2026
The statewide rate, tipped rules, and the exempt salary threshold. Every figure below is checked against primary sources.
| Tipped minimum | Tip credits vary by industry and region; no single statewide rate |
|---|---|
| Exempt salary threshold | Executive & administrative exemptions: $66,300 / year ($1,275/wk) downstate, $62,353.20 / year ($1,199.10/wk) rest of state. NY sets no professional-exemption threshold; the federal $35,568 / year ($684/wk) applies there. |
How New York’s exempt salary threshold compares across all six states
Local rates and notes
For 2027, the state rate stays at $17.00 / hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and $16.00 / hour in the rest of the state. Annual inflation indexing was scheduled to begin in 2027, but the NY DOL reports that one of the law's off-ramp conditions was met, so there is no inflation-based increase on January 1, 2027. The exception is home care aides, whose minimum rises on January 1, 2027 to $20.00 / hour downstate and $19.00 / hour in the rest of the state.
Governor Hochul has proposed amending the off-ramp so that the rates would rise to $17.60 / hour downstate and $16.55 / hour in the rest of the state on March 1, 2027. That happens only if the State Legislature approves it; as of October 1, 2026 it is a proposal, not law.
Rate record
What has taken effect, what we have checked, and what is coming next.
January 1, 2026
State minimum in effect: $17.00 / hour (NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester); $16.00 / hour (rest of state)
November 1, 2026
Every figure on this page re-verified against the primary sources below.Latest check
Jan 1, 2027
No change to the state rate: $17.00 and $16.00 stay in place because an inflation off-ramp condition was met (NY DOL). Home care aides rise to $20.00 / $19.00.
Mar 1, 2027
Proposed, not law: $17.60 / $16.55 if the Legislature approves the Governor’s off-ramp amendment.
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in NYC vs the rest of New York in 2026?
$17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), and Westchester County; $16.00 per hour in the rest of the state; both effective January 1, 2026.
Is there one tipped minimum wage in New York?
No. Tip credits in New York vary by industry and region under the state's wage orders; there is no single statewide tipped rate.
Is New York's minimum wage going up in 2027?
No. The New York DOL has confirmed that on January 1, 2027 the rate stays at $17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and $16.00 per hour in the rest of the state. The law's annual inflation adjustment was due to begin in 2027, but one of its off-ramp conditions was met, so there is no inflation-based increase. Home care aides are the exception: their minimum rises to $20.00 downstate and $19.00 in the rest of the state.
When does New York's minimum wage change next?
Not on January 1, 2027, when the state rate holds at $17.00 and $16.00. Governor Hochul has proposed amending the off-ramp so that rates would rise to $17.60 downstate and $16.55 in the rest of the state on March 1, 2027, but only if the State Legislature approves. As of October 1, 2026 that is a proposal, not law.
Sources and caveats
Caveat: Exempt salary thresholds come from the NY DOL wage orders; the minimum-wage page above does not restate them, and the DOL had not published 2027 thresholds as of October 1, 2026. The 2027 wage status (no increase; off-ramp condition met) and the Governor's March 1, 2027 proposal were read from the two pages above on October 1, 2026.
Get notified when New York changes its rate
State employment law changes, in plain English, verified against primary sources.
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