2024 New Jersey Minimum Wage
The 2024 New Jersey Minimum Wage is $15.13.
Effective 2024-01-01Source: New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Surpass $15 Per Hour Target Set by Gov. Murphy (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2023
| Item | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $14.13 | $15.13 | +$1 (+7.1%) |
Who it applies to
Most employees working in the state of New Jersey.
What changed this year, and why
New Jersey's statewide minimum wage for most employees is $15.13 per hour, effective January 1, 2024. Some categories of workers, such as seasonal employees, small employers, and agricultural workers, follow different schedules.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in New Jersey for 2024?
- For most employees, the minimum wage in New Jersey is $15.13 per hour, effective January 1, 2024.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
For questions about the minimum wage in New Jersey or to file a wage complaint, contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The department oversees wage and hour compliance throughout the state. You can file a wage complaint online through the department's website, or access information about worker rights and employer obligations. The department's Wage and Hour Compliance division handles questions about minimum wage rates, tipped worker requirements, and other pay-related issues. More information is available at https://www.nj.gov/labor/wageandhour/support/faqs/wageandhourworkerfaqs.shtml. Workers who believe they are not being paid the required minimum wage should document their hours worked and pay received, then contact the department to initiate an investigation or file a formal complaint.
For more information on the state minimum wage, visit: https://www.nj.gov/labor/wageandhour/support/faqs/wageandhourworkerfaqs.shtml#minimumwage
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Surpass $15 Per Hour Target Set by Gov. Murphy (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
In New Jersey, tipped workers have a special minimum wage structure. Their cash wage is $5.26 per hour, and employers can claim a tip credit of $9.87 per hour. However, there is an important protection: if a tipped worker's cash wage plus their tips does not equal at least the state minimum wage of $15.13 per hour, the employer must pay the difference. This ensures that tipped workers receive at least the full minimum wage when their tips and cash wage are combined. The tip credit system allows employers to count a portion of the tips received toward their minimum wage obligation, but the total compensation must still meet the state minimum. This press release does not address whether meals or lodging can be credited toward the minimum wage in New Jersey. For more information about tipped worker rights and protections, visit the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website.
Tipped workers cash wage will remain at $5.26/hour, with employers able to claim a $9.87 tip credit, an increase of $1.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Surpass $15 Per Hour Target Set by Gov. Murphy (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 annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development sets the minimum wage for each coming year using either the rate specified in state law or a calculation based on the CPI, whichever results in a higher wage. Once the minimum wage reached $15 per hour in January 2024, the state Constitution requires that it continue to increase each year based on any increase in the CPI. This cost-of-living adjustment ensures that the minimum wage keeps pace with inflation and maintains workers' purchasing power over time. The annual adjustment is automatic and does not require new legislation each year. Employers and workers in New Jersey can expect the minimum wage to increase annually as long as the CPI shows an increase, with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announcing each year's new rate.
Once the minimum wage reaches $15 per hour in January, the state Constitution specifies that it continue to increase annually based on any increase in the CPI.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Surpass $15 Per Hour Target Set by Gov. Murphy (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 Surpass $15 Per Hour Target Set by Gov. Murphy (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
- Hourly
TRENTON - New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage will increase by $1 to $15.13 per hour for most employees on Jan. 1, 2024.
Other years
Every New Jersey Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state