2023 New Jersey Minimum Wage
The 2023 New Jersey Minimum Wage is $14.13.
Effective 2023-01-01Source: New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.13/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2022
| Item | 2022 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $13 | $14.13 | +$1.13 (+8.7%) |
Who it applies to
Most employees working in New Jersey. Seasonal employers, small employers, agricultural workers, and tipped workers follow separate schedules.
What changed this year, and why
New Jersey's statewide minimum wage increased to $14.13 per hour for most employees, effective January 1, 2023, up from $13.00 per hour in 2022.
Common questions
- When did the $14.13 minimum wage take effect?
- January 1, 2023.
- Does the $14.13 rate apply to all employers?
- No. Seasonal and small employers, agricultural workers, and tipped workers follow separate minimum wage schedules.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Employees in New Jersey who believe they are not being paid the correct minimum wage of $14.13 per hour, or who have other wage and hour concerns, should consult the relevant state labor office. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) is the state agency responsible for enforcing minimum wage laws and handling wage complaints. Workers can file a wage complaint with NJDOL if they believe their employer is not complying with state wage requirements. The department provides resources and guidance on worker rights, including information for tipped workers and other special categories. Employers with questions about their obligations under New Jersey wage and hour laws should also contact NJDOL for clarification. The state labor office serves as the primary point of contact for both employees seeking to enforce their rights and employers seeking to understand their compliance requirements regarding the minimum wage and related wage issues in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) sets the minimum wage for the coming year using the rate specified in the law or a calculation based on the CPI, whichever is higher.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.13/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
In New Jersey, employers may use a tip credit to meet part of their minimum wage obligation for tipped workers. For 2023, the minimum cash wage for tipped workers is $5.26 per hour, and employers can claim a tip credit of up to $8.87 per hour. This means employers can count tips toward the minimum wage requirement, but only up to the maximum credit amount. If the cash wage plus tips do not equal at least $14.13 per hour, the employer must pay the employee the difference. This system allows employers to pay a lower base cash wage while ensuring tipped workers still receive the full minimum wage when tips are included. New Jersey law also permits employers to count the value of meals and lodging toward the minimum wage under certain conditions, though the total compensation must still meet or exceed the state minimum wage requirement. The tip credit and other credits reduce the employer's cash wage obligation but do not eliminate the requirement that workers receive at least the full minimum wage in total compensation.
Tipped workers’ cash wage will increase to $5.26/hour, with employers able to claim an $8.87 tip credit, an increase in the maximum allowable tip credit of $1.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.13/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
In New Jersey, the minimum wage is adjusted each year through a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W. The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development calculates the annual adjustment using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Each year, the department compares the state's scheduled minimum wage increase with the inflation-based calculation, then announces whichever rate is higher. For 2023, significant inflation resulted in a larger increase than the standard scheduled step, bringing the minimum wage to $14.13 per hour. The announcement is made by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which publishes the new rate before it takes effect on January 1 of each year. This inflation-indexed approach ensures that the minimum wage keeps pace with rising living costs in New Jersey, rather than remaining static while prices increase. Once the minimum wage reaches the target level set by legislation, the state Constitution requires continued annual adjustments based on CPI-W increases.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) sets the minimum wage for the coming year using the rate specified in the law or a calculation based on the CPI, whichever is higher.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.13/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.13/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
- Hourly
TRENTON - New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage will increase by $1.13 to $14.13 per hour for most employees, effective January 1, 2023.
Other years
Every New Jersey Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state