New Jersey's minimum wage is far higher than the federal floor and rises automatically every January 1. As of 2025 the standard statewide minimum wage for most employers was $15.49 per hour, and under New Jersey law it increases each year based on the Consumer Price Index. Because the rate is reset annually, the 2026 figure is higher than 2025 and you should confirm the exact current number with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development before relying on it. Either way, New Jersey's minimum is more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and when state and federal minimums differ, employers in New Jersey must pay the higher state rate.
How New Jersey got to $15 and beyond
In 2019, New Jersey enacted a law (commonly called A15) that put the state on a multi-year path to a $15 minimum wage. For most employers, that $15 target was reached in 2024, when the rate landed at $15.13 because the final step also included an inflation adjustment. Since reaching $15, the law requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to increase the minimum wage every January 1 by the rate of inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This is why the number keeps moving: it is indexed, not frozen.
Practically, that means the minimum wage you saw last year is not the rate you are owed this year. New Jersey announces the upcoming rate in the fall, and it takes effect the following January 1. Always check the official figure for the current calendar year rather than assuming last year's number still applies.
Tipped workers and the tip credit
New Jersey allows a "tip credit," which lets employers of tipped workers pay a lower direct cash wage and count a portion of the employee's tips toward the minimum wage. As of 2025, the required cash wage for tipped employees was $5.62 per hour, with the employer permitted to claim a maximum tip credit equal to the difference between that cash wage and the full state minimum wage. These figures also adjust over time, so confirm the current tipped cash wage and maximum tip credit with NJDOL.
The key protection is this: the tip credit is a floor, not a loophole. If an employee's cash wage plus actual tips does not add up to at least the full New Jersey minimum wage for every hour worked, the employer must make up the difference. A worker is never legally entitled to less than the full minimum wage once tips are counted. New Jersey's tipped cash wage is also far above the federal tipped cash wage of $2.13 per hour under the FLSA, so the state again provides the stronger protection.
Employers must also follow the rules on tip pooling and cannot keep employees' tips for the house or for managers and supervisors. If your employer is skimming tips, miscounting them, or using the tip credit to pay you below the full minimum, that is a wage violation.
Lower and special phase-in rates
New Jersey's minimum wage law created separate, slower schedules for certain employers, so not everyone reached the top rate at the same time:
Small and seasonal employers. Employers with fewer than six employees and seasonal employers were placed on a delayed track and reached the $15 level later than larger employers. Their minimum is set somewhat below the standard rate during the phase-in and is also adjusted each year, so verify the current small-employer/seasonal figure.
Agricultural employers. Farm workers have their own, even slower phase-in schedule under the law, with its own target dates and rate. Confirm the current agricultural minimum separately.
Long-term care facility direct care staff. New Jersey requires a premium for direct care workers at long-term care facilities, setting their minimum at several dollars above the standard statewide minimum wage.
These categories are exceptions to the headline rate, not loopholes that let an employer pay below what the law sets for your specific situation. If you are unsure which schedule applies to your job, NJDOL can tell you.
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Are there city or county minimum wages in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey does not have separate city or county minimum wages. The statewide rate applies uniformly across the state, so the minimum wage in Newark, Jersey City, Trenton, Camden, and every other municipality is the same state-set figure (adjusted for the special categories above). Unlike states such as California or New York, where local governments set higher local minimums, New Jersey's minimum wage is governed at the state level and applies everywhere in the state. The one place you may see a higher required wage is in certain government contracts or local "living wage" ordinances tied to public contracting, which are separate from the general minimum wage that covers private employment.
Overtime and how it interacts with the minimum
New Jersey also requires overtime pay at one and one-half times the regular rate for most hourly employees who work more than 40 hours in a week, mirroring the federal FLSA 40-hour weekly standard. Overtime is calculated on your actual regular rate of pay, which for most workers is at least the minimum wage. New Jersey does not require daily overtime for an eight-hour day; the trigger is the 40-hour week.
How to enforce your right to the minimum wage
If you are paid less than New Jersey's minimum wage, denied the tip-credit make-up pay, or shorted on overtime, you can file a wage claim with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance. New Jersey's wage laws are strong: under the state's Wage Theft Act, workers can recover unpaid wages plus liquidated damages of up to 200% of the wages owed, the lookback period for claims reaches back six years, and the law prohibits retaliation against employees who complain or file claims. Penalties against employers who violate the law can be significant.
Steps to take:
Keep your own records of hours worked, your hourly rate, and tips received, in case the employer's records are incomplete.
Note the dates and amounts of any underpayment.
File a wage claim with NJDOL's Division of Wage and Hour, or consult an employment attorney, especially for larger or ongoing violations.
If you were fired or punished for raising the issue, document that too, because retaliation is separately illegal.
Where to confirm the current rate
Because New Jersey's minimum wage and tipped cash wage change every January 1, the single most reliable source is the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL). NJDOL publishes the current standard rate, the small-employer and seasonal rate, the agricultural rate, the long-term care premium rate, and the tipped cash wage and maximum tip credit each year. Before assuming any specific number, check the current-year figure on the official NJDOL minimum wage page. If your employer pays the federal minimum of $7.25 or the federal tipped cash wage of $2.13, that is almost certainly a violation in New Jersey, because the state rate is much higher and controls.
Official New Jersey Sources
This page is based on New Jersey employment law. Rules and figures change — verify the current details directly with the official New Jersey sources below. This is general legal information, not legal advice.
Federal law and local ordinances may also apply. Federal laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act set a national floor, and your city or county may add protections (such as a higher local minimum wage or paid sick leave). Check both alongside New Jersey state law.
Frequently asked questions
What is New Jersey's minimum wage right now?
For most employers, New Jersey's minimum wage was $15.49 per hour as of 2025, and it rises every January 1 with inflation, so the current-year rate is higher. Always confirm the exact figure on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) website, since it changes annually.
Can my employer pay me less than $15 because I get tips?
Your employer can pay a lower cash wage (about $5.62 per hour as of 2025) and count tips toward the minimum, but your cash wage plus tips must equal at least the full New Jersey minimum wage for every hour. If it does not, the employer must make up the difference.
Does any New Jersey city have a higher minimum wage?
No. New Jersey sets one statewide minimum wage that applies in every city and county, including Newark and Jersey City. There are no separate municipal minimum wages, although some public-contract living-wage ordinances are a distinct matter from the general minimum.
Is New Jersey's minimum wage higher than the federal minimum?
Yes, by a lot. The federal minimum under the FLSA is $7.25 per hour and the federal tipped cash wage is $2.13. New Jersey's minimum is more than double that, and when the state and federal rates differ, your employer must pay the higher New Jersey rate.
What can I do if I'm paid below New Jersey's minimum wage?
File a wage claim with NJDOL's Division of Wage and Hour. Under New Jersey's Wage Theft Act you can recover unpaid wages plus liquidated damages up to 200%, with a six-year lookback, and retaliation for complaining is illegal.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and may not reflect the most current law or the law in your jurisdiction. Laws vary by state and change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
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