New Jersey’s minimum wage is $15.92 an hour for most workers in 2026 [1][2]. But the state has more than one rate: smaller and seasonal businesses, farms and tipped jobs each have their own, and some of them are still catching up under a phase-in schedule set by the 2019 law [1].
At a glance
- Most workers
- $15.92 an hour since Jan. 1, 2026 [1][2]
- Seasonal employers and those with fewer than 6 employees
- $15.23 an hour [1][2]
- Farm workers (hourly or piece rate)
- $14.20 an hour [1][2]
- Tipped workers
- $6.05 cash wage; tips must make up the rest [1][2][4]
- Long-term care direct care staff
- $18.92 an hour [1][2]
- January 1, 2027
- $16.48 for most workers [1][3]
2026 rates at a glance
| Who | From Jan. 1, 2026 | From Jan. 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Most employers | $15.92 | $16.48 |
| Seasonal employers and small employers (fewer than 6 employees) | $15.23 | $16.25 |
| Agricultural employers (hourly or piece rate) | $14.20 | $15.00 |
| Tipped workers: minimum cash wage | $6.05 | $6.61 |
| Tipped workers: maximum tip credit | $9.87 | $9.87 |
| Long-term care facility direct care staff | $18.92 | $19.48 |
Why there are different rates
When New Jersey passed its $15 minimum wage law, it gave some employers extra time to get there [1]:
- Seasonal and small employers. A small employer here means one with fewer than 6 employees [1][3]. Their rate is lower in 2026 ($15.23), and it keeps rising on a fixed schedule until 2028 [2][3].
- Farms. Agricultural employers paying by the hour or by piece rate have the longest runway. Their rate rises step by step until 2030 [2][3].
After those phase-ins end, the state says all of the rates will keep adjusting each year [2][3]. The yearly increases come from the New Jersey Constitution, which ties the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index [3].
How the rates have climbed
| Effective | Most employers | Seasonal and small | Agricultural | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 | $12 | $11.10 | $10.30 | $4.13 |
| 2022-01-01 | $13 | $11.90 | $11.05 | $5.13 |
| 2023-01-01 | $14.13 | $12.93 | $12.01 | $5.26 |
| 2024-01-01 | $15.13 | $13.73 | $12.81 | $5.26 |
| 2025-01-01 | $15.49 | $14.53 | $13.40 | $5.62 |
| 2026-01-01 | $15.92 | $15.23 | $14.20 | $6.05 |
| 2027-01-01 | $16.48 | $16.25 | $15 | $6.61 |
Tipped workers
If you earn tips, your employer can count part of them toward the minimum wage. This is called a tip credit . In 2026:
- the employer must pay at least $6.05 an hour in cash wages [2], and
- the most the employer can count from tips is $9.87 an hour [2].
Those two numbers add up to $15.92. If your cash wage plus tips comes up short of the minimum wage in a given week, the state Department of Labor says the employer has to make up the difference [4].
Overtime
Most hourly workers must be paid 1½ times their regular rate for hours actually worked over 40 in a week. Paid holidays and leave don’t count toward the 40 [4]. Salaried executive, administrative and professional employees are generally exempt from overtime [4].
Who isn’t covered
The state’s worker FAQ lists a few groups the minimum wage law doesn’t cover, including automobile salespeople and outside salespeople. It also excludes most minors under 18, except those working in listed fields such as retail, food service and hotels [4]. If you’re unsure whether you’re covered, ask the Department of Labor.
What changes on January 1, 2027
The Department of Labor announced on September 29, 2026 that the minimum wage for most workers rises $0.56 to $16.48 an hour on January 1, 2027 [3]. Seasonal and small employers go to $16.25, farm workers to $15.00, and the tipped cash wage to $6.61, with the tip credit staying at $9.87 [3].
Sources
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in New Jersey in 2026?
$15.92 an hour for most workers, from January 1, 2026. Seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees can pay $15.23, and farm workers paid hourly or by piece rate must get at least $14.20.
How much is New Jersey's minimum wage going up in 2027?
The state Department of Labor says it rises to $16.48 an hour for most workers on January 1, 2027. Seasonal and small employers go to $16.25, farm workers to $15, and the tipped cash wage to $6.61.
Can a New Jersey employer pay a tipped worker $6.05 an hour?
Yes, as the cash wage in 2026, but tips have to bring the worker up to at least the full minimum wage. If they don't, the employer has to make up the difference.