2025 New York Minimum Wage
The 2025 New York Minimum Wage is $16.50.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: History of the Minimum Wage in New York State (New York State Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-29
Compared with 2024
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $16 | $16.50 | +$0.50 (+3.1%) |
Who it applies to
Non-exempt employees working in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County
What changed this year, and why
Effective January 1, 2025, the general hourly minimum wage in New York State is $16.50 for all employers in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), and Westchester County. The remainder of the state has a lower rate.
Common questions
- Is the minimum wage the same everywhere in New York State?
- No. New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County share the $16.50 rate. The remainder of the state has a lower minimum wage.
- Does this rate apply to fast food workers?
- Yes. Fast food employees have separate minimum hourly rates.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers and employers with questions about the current $16.50 minimum wage, past rate changes, or who is covered should direct them to the New York State Department of Labor's minimum wage resource page, which is maintained by the same agency that publishes the historical rate table. The page answers common questions about coverage, exemptions (for example, certain tipped workers, junior employees, and some nonprofit employees), and how the rate is indexed for inflation. If an employer has paid less than the legally required rate, the next step is to file a wage complaint with the New York State Department of Labor. Workers can submit a claim online through the Department's website for unpaid wages, including underpayment of the minimum wage. Complaints may also be filed in person or by mail at any regional DOL office. The Department's Bureau of Labor Standards investigates these claims and can recover back wages owed. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing a complaint or cooperating in an investigation. Local nonprofit legal services and the State Attorney General's office may also be able to help with wage-and-hour disputes.
If you have any questions about New York State's minimum wage, please see the State Department of Labor's minimum wage resource page.
History of the Minimum Wage in New York State (New York State Department of Labor)
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.
History of the Minimum Wage in New York State (New York State Department of Labor)
- Hourly
Basic Minimum Hourly Rates (other than fast food employees) New York City: Large employers of 11 or more employees: $11.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $13.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2018. Small employers of 10 or fewer employees: $10.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $12.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $13.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2019. All Employers: $16.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2024; $16.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025; $17.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2026.
Other years
Every New York Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state