New Jersey Minimum Wage
New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws table, updated November 5, 2026.
Scheduled: $16.48 from January 1, 2027.
Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, press release of September 29, 2026, read November 10, 2026.
- Rate in effect
- $15.92
- Federal minimum
- $7.25
- Full-time year
- $33,114
- State rank
- 8th of 51
Local ordinances and sector rates can be higher where state law allows them, and are not shown here. To confirm a local or sector rate, use the state agency listed on the Department of Labor's State Labor Offices page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05. Checked against NCSL state minimum wage table (as of 2026-07-01); EPI 2026 table where listed. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, the convention BLS uses. Confirm the rate in the Department of Labor table. Table read November 10, 2026; rechecked on the January 1 and July 1 statutory change dates, next on January 1, 2027. Scheduled rates are shown where the Department of Labor or the state's own agency publishes one we could read; a state showing none may still have one, so check its labor office.
How does New Jersey's minimum wage compare with the federal rate?
The rate in New Jersey is $8.67 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in New Jersey?
Employers in New Jersey can pay tipped workers a cash wage of $6.05 an hour and count a tip credit of up to $9.87 toward the $15.92 combined rate. The table counts as tipped an employee who receives more than $30 a month in tips. The minimum cash wage for tipped workers is scheduled to be $6.61 from January 1, 2027.
The Department of Labor adds: An employer can apply a tip credit only if tipped employees have been told in advance the cash wage, the tip credit claimed, and that all tips must be kept by the employee except in a valid tip pool limited to tipped employees. There is a minimum wage of $15.23 for employers with fewer than 6 people and for seasonal employment.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, updated November 5, 2026. Scheduled figure: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, press release of September 29, 2026.
How does the minimum compare with pay in New Jersey?
The lowest-paid tenth of jobs in New Jersey paid $16.56 an hour or less in May 2025, so the current minimum equals 96% of that line and 57% of the state's median hourly pay of $28.16.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, all occupations, hourly; minimum wage as listed on November 5, 2026. The wage figures are from May 2025, so a rate raised since then can sit above them. Confirm the wage figures in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
Which occupations in New Jersey pay closest to the minimum?
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers have the 10th-percentile wage closest to $15.92, at $15.94 an hour, among occupations with at least 100 jobs.
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $15.94 | $18.37 | 5,120 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $15.94 | $39.03 | 170 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $15.95 | $28.35 | 870 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $15.88 | $17.59 | 1,020 |
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | $15.87 | $33.22 | 580 |
| Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other | $15.87 | $18.12 | 280 |
| Telemarketers | $15.98 | $18.93 | 410 |
| Medical Records Specialists | $16.00 | $24.16 | 4,450 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $16.00 | $26.42 | 3,520 |
| Massage Therapists | $16.00 | $24.11 | 2,890 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, hourly wages. Confirm in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.