New York Minimum Wage 2026
New York's minimum wage of $17 in 2026 is among the highest in the United States, and it is significantly higher than than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
New York Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in New York is $680. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in New York is $35.4K.
Based on $17/hr minimum
Based on $17/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of New York and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $17, with an average of $12.98. New York, at $17, has the highest hourly minimum wage within this group of states. Connecticut ($16.94), Massachusetts ($15), Vermont ($14.42), New Hampshire ($7.25), and Pennsylvania ($7.25) have lower hourly rates than New York.
New York While the general minimum wage is $17 per hour in New York, there are several exceptions where workers may legally receive less than this amount:
Tipped employees have a minimum wage of $13.30, or $14.15 in New York City, Westchester County, Suffolk County and Nassau County.
These employees have a minimum wage of $10.70, or $11.35 in New York City, Westchester County, Suffolk County and Nassau County.
These employees are entitled to a minimum wage of $17.00 per hour.
Workers whose primary responsibility is to provide in home assistance with activities of daily living have a minimum wage of $18.65, or $19.65 in New York City, Westchester County, Suffolk County and Nassau County.
The farm worker wage order applies to commission, bonus, piece rate or hourly pay, and sets minimum wage at $14.20 per hour, or $15.00 per hour in New York City, Westchester County, Suffolk County and Nassau County.
Janitors in residential buildings, regardless of size or heating setups have a minimum wage of $10.70, or $11.35 in New York City, Westchester County, Suffolk County and Nassau County. However, in New York City, if the business employs fewer than 11 people, the minimum wage is $11.00.
All employees except janitors in residential buildings have a minimum wage of $16, or $17 in New York City, Westchester County, Suffolk County and Nassau County.
A few cities in New York have specific minimum wage exceptions as well:
New York's cost of living index for 2025 is 125.1, which places it as the 5th most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
New York 125.1
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in New York, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 125.1, is approximately $13.59 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $17 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is lower due to New York's higher cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $543.57, translating to an annual purchasing power of $28,265.39 when working 52 weeks per year.
Adjusted
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Adjusted
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
New York’s minimum wage is set under a tiered system that varies by region, with higher rates in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester compared to the rest of the state. The wage has been increased through a combination of legislative action and phased implementation schedules, with ongoing adjustments in some regions tied to economic conditions and state policy decisions rather than a single statewide automatic inflation index.
