The minimum wage in New York State is set to increase to $17.00 in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County and to $16.00 for employees in the rest of the state, beginning January 1, 2026, along with several other wage credit adjustments affecting employers.

Quick Hits

• Effective January 1, 2026, New York State will raise the minimum wage to $17.00 for downstate employees and $16.00 for upstate employees
• Along with the minimum wage increases, there will be adjustments to the cash wage and tip credits for tipped service employees, as well as revised meal and uniform credit rates to reflect the new wage structure.
• The minimum salary thresholds for the executive and administrative employee minimum wage exemption are also set to increase for both downstate and upstate employees.

Minimum Wage Increase

New York has separate minimum wage rates for employees in downstate New York, which encompasses New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties), and Westchester County, and for employees in upstate New York (the remainder of the state). The hourly minimum wage rates for both downstate and upstate and employees will increase by $0.50 per hour in 2026.

Effective January 1, 2026, the rate for downstate employees will increase to $17.00 per hour from $16.50 per hour, and for upstate employees, it will increase to $16.00 per hour from $15.50 per hour. Along with the minimum wage rate increases, there will be adjustments to the minimum cash wage for tipped service...

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