Starting Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York state will be increasing.

On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New Yorkers earning minimum wage will earn an additional 50 cents per hour. New York’s minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and $15.50 per hour for the rest of the state.

“Putting money back in your pockets has been the focus of my first three Budgets, and that includes increasing minimum wage for the lowest earners across the state,” Hochul said. “With rising costs of living, this increase will help to lighten the burdens of inflation for New Yorkers while providing businesses with the time needed to adjust.”

This adjustment is part of New York’s historic multiyear agreement between Hochul and the New York State Legislature to index the minimum wage to inflation. Today’s announcement is part of state Labor Department’s ongoing effort to educate employees and employers alike, ensuring awareness of the change, and to proactively reduce potential wage theft.

“In this current era of inflation and rising costs, every cent counts for all New Yorkers, especially workers who earn minimum wage,” said state Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “By gradually increasing wages for the lowest earners, we are ensuring businesses can adjust to the change while also helping more families make ends meet. I want to thank Governor Hochul and the Legislature for working together to strengthen the paychecks of New Yorkers statewide.”

The minimum wage is scheduled to increase by another 50 cents in 2026 and then increase annually starting in 2027 at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region – the most accurate regional measure of inflation. An “off-ramp” is available in the event of certain economic or budget conditions.

Employers can find additional information, including an interactive Minimum Wage Lookup Tool, by visiting the Minimum Wage website.