New Jersey minimum wage rises to $16.48 an hour on Jan. 1

New Jersey's minimum wage will rise from $15.92 to $16.48 an hour for most workers on Jan. 1, 2027, while seasonal and small employers will have to pay at least $16.25.

New Jersey's minimum wage will increase to $16.48 an hour for most workers on Jan. 1, 2027, up 56 cents from the current $15.92, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Employees of seasonal businesses and of employers with fewer than six workers will see their minimum rise from $15.23 to $16.25 an hour. The minimum for farm workers paid by the hour or by piece rate will be $15.00, while direct care staff at long-term care facilities will earn at least $19.48 an hour.

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development building in Trenton

For tipped workers, the minimum cash wage will be $6.61 an hour, and employers may count up to $9.87 in tips toward the minimum. If a tipped employee's cash wage and tips together fall short of $16.48 an hour, the employer must pay the difference.

New Jersey State House in Trenton

The annual increase is required by the state Constitution, which ties the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index. Seasonal and small employers are still on a schedule of increases set by state law until 2028, and farm workers until 2030; after that, their rates will also be adjusted every year in line with inflation.

The new rates are important for Turkish Americans in New Jersey, home to one of the largest Turkish communities in the United States, centered in Paterson and Clifton. Both employees and the many small-business owners in the community will need to plan for the change. Workers who are paid less than the legal minimum can file a wage claim with the state Department of Labor.