New York State’s minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1, 2026, marking the third consecutive year of scheduled raises.
Under the new rates, the minimum wage will rise to $17 per hour in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island. In the rest of the state, the minimum wage will increase to $16 per hour. The $0.50 hourly increase is part of a multi-year plan adopted in 2023 and is intended to help workers keep pace with rising living costs, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 22.
“From the tip of Montauk to Niagara Falls, this increase reflects our promise to put money back in New Yorkers pockets and uplift our hard workers,” Hochul said in a statement. “By continuing these investments and indexing wages to inflation, we’re making sure New Yorkers can keep up with rising costs by taking home more money.”
The 2026 raise follows similar $0.50 per hour increases that took effect in 2024 and 2025 as part of the agreement between the governor and the New York State Legislature.
State officials say the increase reflects an ongoing commitment to boosting take-home pay for low-wage workers across New York. Beginning in 2027, future minimum wage increases will be automatically adjusted each year based on inflation, using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast region.
The New York State Department of Labor is conducting outreach to ensure both employers and employees understand the updated wage requirements. The department offers free educational seminars to help employers comply with labor laws and provides online resources for workers.
Employees can find additional information, including an interactive Minimum Wage Lookup Tool, on the Department of Labor’s minimum wage webpage. Workers who earn the minimum wage and do not see the increase reflected in their pay after Jan. 1, 2026, may file a wage complaint online or by calling 833-910-4378. Information about wage theft protections is also available through the state’s Wage Theft Hub.
