New Jersey · 2027
New Jersey minimum wage in 2027.
Published rate, effective January 1, 2027.
New Jersey's minimum wage is $16.48 an hour for most workers on January 1, 2027, up from $15.92 in 2026. Small and seasonal employers pay $16.25, agricultural employers $15.00, and the cash wage for tipped workers is $6.61.
New Jersey publishes the next January's rates in its minimum wage chart, so the 2027 numbers are official. The chart is based on an inflation measure and the state says the minimum "may continue to increase each January 1."
Convert the hourly rate
Result
New Jersey minimum wage rates
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| State minimum wage | $15.92 | $16.48 |
Other rates in the state source: Most employers $16.48; Seasonal and small employers (fewer than 6) $16.25; Agricultural employers $15.00; Cash wage for tipped workers $6.61.
What the sources say
New Jersey Department of Labor chart MW-570 (9/26) lists, for January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027: most employers $15.92 then $16.48; seasonal and small employers (fewer than 6 employees) $15.23 then $16.25; agricultural employers $14.20 then $15.00; tipped cash wage $6.05 then $6.61; long-term care facility direct care staff $18.92 then $19.48.
A tip credit applies against the full minimum wage only if the employee was told the cash wage, the tip credit amount and that they keep all tips, so the maximum credit for most employers in 2027 is $16.48 minus $6.61, which is $9.87. DOL's tipped table gives the same $9.87 credit for 2026 against the 2026 rate. Tipped workers must still reach the full minimum wage when cash wage and tips are added.
Worked example
Full-time at $16.48, 40 hours a week. $659.20 a week, $1,318.40 every two weeks, $2,856.53 a month and $34,278.40 a year (2,080 hours), before tax.
Part-time at $16.48, 30 hours a week. $494.40 a week and $25,708.80 a year before tax.
What the change is worth. $15.92 to $16.48 is $0.56 more an hour (3.52%), or $1,164.80 more a year at 40 hours.
Limits of this page
The converter multiplies the hourly rate by your hours and 52 weeks, with monthly as one twelfth of the year. It is gross pay before tax and ignores overtime, unpaid time off and local minimum wages that are higher than the state rate. Cities and counties in some states set their own rates, so check the place where the work is done.
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Jersey minimum wage in 2027?
$16.48 an hour for most workers starting January 1, 2027, per the New Jersey Department of Labor minimum wage chart.
What is the 2027 rate for small employers?
$16.25 an hour for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees. Agricultural employers pay $15.00.
What is the tipped cash wage in 2027?
$6.61 an hour. The employer must make up the difference if cash wage plus tips do not reach $16.48.
How much is the raise?
$0.56 an hour for most workers, about 3.5%, or roughly $1,165 a year for a full-time worker at 2,080 hours.
Will it keep rising?
The state says the minimum wage may continue to increase each January 1 based on a measure of inflation. A 2028 rate is not published.
Not legal advice
This page is general information, not legal, payroll or tax advice. Wage laws change and exemptions apply to some workers. Confirm the rate with the state labor agency before you set pay. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.