NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Starting Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, will increase to $16.50 per hour.
The minimum wage for the rest of New York will rise to $15.50 per hour. The $0.50 increase is part of a multi-year agreement between Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature to index the minimum wage to inflation.
The minimum wage will rise by another $0.50 in 2026. Starting in 2027, the rate of increase will be determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region.
“Putting money back in your pockets has been the focus of my first three Budgets, and that includes increasing the minimum wage for the lowest earners across the state,” said Hochul. “With rising costs of living, this increase will help to lighten the burdens of inflation for New Yorkers while providing businesses with the time needed to adjust."
New Yorkers earning minimum wage who do not see the increase reflected in their paychecks should file a wage complaint online or by calling (833) 910-4378.
Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.
