2027 New Jersey Minimum Wage
The 2027 New Jersey Minimum Wage is $16.48.
Effective 2027-01-01Source: New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $16.48/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)Verified 2026-10-20
Compared with 2026
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $15.92 | $16.48 | +$0.56 (+3.5%) |
Who it applies to
Most employees in New Jersey
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage increased from $15.92 per hour in 2026 to $16.48 per hour in 2027.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Minimum wage pay calculator takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
In New Jersey, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development handles questions about the state minimum wage and accepts wage complaints from employees. Workers in New Jersey who believe they have not been paid at least $16.48 per hour can file a wage complaint through the department. For additional guidance, the department provides online resources including a frequently asked questions page about wage and hour rules, as well as a dedicated page explaining the rights and protections of tipped workers.
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 Increase to $16.48/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 claim a tip credit of up to $9.87 per hour when paying tipped workers. The minimum cash wage rate for these employees will be $6.61 per hour in 2027. However, if an employee's cash wage plus their tips do not add up to at least the state minimum wage of $16.48 per hour, the employer is required to pay the difference. This guarantee ensures that tipped workers in New Jersey always receive at least the full minimum wage when tips and cash wages are combined.
The minimum cash wage rate for tipped workers will rise to $6.61 an hour from $6.05, with the maximum tip credit employers are able to claim remaining at $9.87. If the minimum cash wage plus an employee’s tips do not equal at least the state minimum wage, then the employer must pay the employee the difference.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $16.48/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 annually based on increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development sets the rate for the coming year pursuant to Article 1, Paragraph 23, of the New Jersey Constitution and N.J.A.C. 12:56-3.1(c). This cost-of-living adjustment ensures that the $16.48 hourly rate keeps pace with inflation. Once the scheduled statutory increases are completed for all worker categories, every minimum wage rate in New Jersey will continue to rise each year in line with CPI increases.
Pursuant to Article 1, Paragraph 23, of the New Jersey Constitution, and N.J.A.C. 12: 56-3.1(c), the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) sets the minimum wage for the coming year based on any increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $16.48/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 $16.48/Hour for Most Employees on Jan. 1 (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
- Hourly
New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage will increase by $0.56 to $16.48 per hour for most employees, effective January 1, 2027.
Other years
Every New Jersey Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state