New York State Minimum Wage

The New York state minimum wage rate in 2023 is $14.20 per hour for employees working within the state that are not exempt from the minimum wage rate. Additionally, there is a slightly different minimum wage rate and system for New York City and some other city employees in New York.

New York’s minimum wage is one of the 29 states that exceed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. In fact, the New York minimum wage in 2023 far exceeds the federal minimum wage rate even on the lower end of the scale. The $14.20 minimum wage increase in 2023 represents a 7.57% increase from the NY minimum wage in 2022.

The New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County minimum wage rates for 2023 are all $15.00 per hour. In the past, the minimum wage for these regions within the state differed depending on the size of the business you worked for (11 or more employees is a large business, and 10 or fewer is a small business in NY). However, not in 2023, in the new year all employees working in those areas of the state will be paid a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.

Did the New York Minimum Wage Go Up?

Yes, the New York minimum wage certainly did go up from the previous year of 2022, as you can see in the graphic below. Not only this, but you can see the minimum wage rates over the past several years for the state, displaying consistent increases each year.

If you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in New York, your earnings could be as follows:

• Daily Minimum Wage: $113.60 (based on an 8-hour working day).
• Weekly Minimum Wage: $568.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
• Yearly Minimum Wage: $29,536.00 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).

New York Minimum Wage 2023

2023 saw the New York minimum wage increase in most areas of New York from $13.20 to $14.20 per hour, this increase had been planned for a number of years and we will see another increase to the New York minimum wage next year as part of the 2016-2017 State Budget that was agreed.

New York City used to have a different New York minimum wage rate depending on the size of the employer. Larger employers (11 or more employees) in the City have had to pay their employees $15.00 per hour since 12/31/18, and at that time, smaller employers in NYC were required to pay their employees $13.50 per hour.

This all changed on 12/31/19 when the increase in NY min wage for small employers (10 or fewer employees) was increased to $15.00 per hour as well. Now, large and small employers in New York City must pay their employees $15.00 per hour.

You can view and download the official New York minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 here at no charge. Employers must display a poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.

Min Wage in NY (Long Island & Westchester)

The min wage in NY in Long Island and Westchester, which covers Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties is $15.00 per hour in 2023. This is also set to increase based on prior legislation that was signed by Governor Cuomo as part of the 2016-2017 State Budget. The Governor’s plan takes the needs of workers and businesses alike into account and it benefits over 2 million New York workers.

If you would like more information on the Minimum Wage Act from the New York State Labor Department, you can head over to their website. The NY labor department requires that all employees in New York State receive at least the applicable hourly Min Wage in NY; this includes domestic workers and employees in the Nail Salon Industry.

There are, however, regulations known as “Wage Orders” that set certain requirements that are industry-specific. The rates contained in these Wage Orders may differ from the general NY Min Wage rate. The New York labor department has specific details for each industry included in a wage order, but they are as follows:

• Hospitality Industry (includes fast-food workers)
• Building Service Industry
• Non-Profitmaking Institutions
• Farm Workers
• Miscellaneous Industries and Occupations

New York Minimum Wage History

The table below provides the current rate and history of New York’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.

New York State Minimum Wage Exemptions

In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, city minimum wage rates, and other location-based minimum wages in New York, there are a few New York state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.

New York Student Minimum Wage

The minimum wage for student employees in New York is 85% of the New York minimum wage, making their hourly pay $12.07 per hour in 2023.

This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the New York minimum wage rate of $14.20 per hour.

Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many New York employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.

Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.

New York Under 20 Minimum Wage

If you are under 20 years old in New York, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.

Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2023 New York minimum wage of $14.20 per hour or potentially even more.

Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.

New York Tipped Minimum Wage

If you are a tipped employee in New York (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $9.45 per hour, with a tip credit of $4.75 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.

New York Overtime Minimum Wage

Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime minimum wage in New York is $21.30 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $14.20 per hour.