History of the Minimum Wage in New York State | Department of Labor Skip to main content Navigation Menu Toggle Department of Labor Unemployment Benefits Unemployment Benefits How to File an Unemployment Insurance Claim Certify for Weekly Benefits Shared Work Program Employer Information Report Fraud Calculators Jobs & Careers Jobs & Careers Find a Job Career Development Apprenticeships Youth Services for Veterans Emerging Industries Business Support Business Support Recruit Your Workforce Apprenticeships Rapid Response Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Hiring Incentives & Tax Credits Funding Opportunities Services for Agricultural Employers Workforce Protections Workforce Protections Labor Standards Minimum Wage Safety & Health Legal DEI and Equal Opportunity Public Work and Prevailing Wage Enforcement Division of Compliance and Education Labor Data Labor Data Occupational and Industry Data NYS Data Center Labor Market Analysts Unemployment Insurance Data Sharing Workforce Data and Research Resources Resources Language Access Workforce Governance Forms & Publications About Us About Us Join Our DOL Community Pressroom Contact Us Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access History of the Minimum Wage in New York State History and record of the general hourly minimum wage in New York State. History of the General Hourly Minimum Wage in New York State History of the General Hourly Minimum Wage in New York State Effective Date Minimum Wage Rate Prior to 1960 State minimum wage rates varied from industry to industry October 1, 1960 Newly established general minimum wage set at $1.00 October 15, 1962 Increased from $1.00 to $1.15 October 15, 1964 Increased from $1.15 to $1.25 January 1, 1967 Increased from $1.25 to $1.50 February 1, 1968 Increased from $1.50 to $1.60 July 1, 1970 Increased from $1.60 to $1.85 May 1, 1974 Increased from $1.85 to $2.00 January 1, 1975 Increased from $2.00 to $2.10 January 1, 1976 Increased from $2.10 to $2.30 October 6, 1978 Increased from $2.30 to $2.65 January 1, 1979 Increased from $2.65 to $2.90 January 1, 1980 Increased from $2.90 to $3.10 January 1, 1981 Increased from $3.10 to $3.35 April 1, 1990 Increased from $3.35 to $3.80 April 1, 1991 Increased from $3.80 to $4.25 March 31, 2000 Increased from $4.25 to $5.15 January 1, 2005 Increased from $5.15 to $6.00 January 1, 2006 Increased from $6.00 to $6.75 January 1, 2007 Increased from $6.75 to $7.15 July 24, 2009 Increased from $7.15 to $7.25 December 31, 2013 Increased from $7.25 to $8.00 December 31, 2014 Increased from $8.00 to $8.75 December 31, 2015 Increased from $8.75 to $9.00 Beginning December 31, 2016, annual increases in the general minimum wage were determined by employment location, industry, and number of employees (in New York City only). 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. Long Island, and Westchester counties: $10.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $11.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $12.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $13.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2019; $14.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2020; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2021; $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. Remainder of state (outside of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties): $9.70 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $10.40 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $11.10 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $11.80 per hour on and after December 31, 2019; $12.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2020; $13.20 per hour on and after December 31, 2021; $14.20 per hour on and after December 31, 2022; $15.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2024; $15.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025; $16.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2026. Minimum Hourly Rates for Fast Food Employees New York City: $12.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $13.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $16.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025; $17.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2026. Outside of New York City: $10.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $11.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $12.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $13.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2019; $14.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2020; $15.00 per hour on and after July 1, 2021; $15.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025; $16.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2026. If you have any questions about New York State's minimum wage, please see the State Department of Labor's minimum wage resource page. Funded by U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. 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