History of the Minimum Wage in New York State Department of Labor
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Department of Labor (/): History of the Minimum Wage in New York State.
Effective Date: Prior to 1960. Minimum Wage Rate: State minimum wage rates varied from industry to industry.
7/2/25, 3:23 PM History of the Minimum Wage in New York State | Department of Labor Department of Labor employment, NYSDOL is here to help. Unemployment Eligibility For Federal Workers (/unemployment-assistance-eligibility- federal-employees) History of the Minimum Wage in New York State History of the General Hourly Minimum Wage in New York State Effective Date Minimum Wage Rate State minimum wage rates varied from industry to industry October 1, 1960 Newly established general minimum wage set at $1.00 October 15, 1962 Increased from $1.00 to $1.15 October 15, 1964 Increased from $1.15 to $1.25 January 1, 1967 Increased from $1.25 to $1.50 February 1, 1968 Increased from $1.50 to $1.60 July 1, 1970 Increased from $1.60 to $1.85 May 1, 1974 Increased from $1.85 to $2.00 January 1, 1975 Increased from $2.00 to $2.10 January 1, 1976 Increased from $2.10 to $2.30 October 6, 1978 Increased from $2.30 to $2.65 January 1, 1979 Increased from $2.65 to $2.90
7/2/25, 3:23 PM History of the Minimum Wage in New York State | Department of Labor January 1, 1980 Increased from $2.90 to $3.10 January 1, 1981 Increased from $3.10 to $3.35 April 1, 1990 Increased from $3.35 to $3.80 April 1, 1991 Increased from $3.80 to $4.25 March 31, 2000 Increased from $4.25 to $5.15 January 1, 2005 Increased from $5.15 to $6.00 January 1, 2006 Increased from $6.00 to $6.75 January 1, 2007 Increased from $6.75 to $7.15 July 24, 2009 Increased from $7.15 to $7.25 December 31, Increased from $7.25 to $8.00 December 31, Increased from $8.00 to $8.75 December 31, Increased from $8.75 to $9.00 Beginning December 31, 2016, annual increases in the general minimum wage were determined by employment location, industry, and number of employees (in New York City only).
Basic Minimum Hourly Rates (other than fast food employees) New York City: Large employers of 11 or more employees: $11.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $13.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2018. https://dol.ny.gov/history-minimum-wage-new-york-state 2/6
7/2/25, 3:23 PM History of the Minimum Wage in New York State | Department of Labor Small employers of 10 or fewer employees: $10.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $12.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $13.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2019.
All Employers: $16.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2024. $16.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025. Long Island, and Westchester counties: $10.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $11.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $12.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $13.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2019; $14.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2020; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2021.
$16.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2024. $16.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025. Remainder of state (outside of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties): $9.70 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $10.40 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $11.10 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $11.80 per hour on and after December 31, 2019; $12.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2020; $13.20 per hour on and after December 31, 2021.
$14.20 per hour on and after December 31, 2022. $15.00 per hour on and after January 1, 2024. $15.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025.
7/2/25, 3:23 PM History of the Minimum Wage in New York State | Department of Labor Minimum Hourly Rates for Fast Food Employees New York City: $12.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $13.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $15.00 per hour on and after December 31, 2018. $16.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025 Outside of New York City:
$10.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2016; $11.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2017; $12.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2018; $13.75 per hour on and after December 31, 2019; $14.50 per hour on and after December 31, 2020; $15.00 per hour on and after July 1, 2021. $15.50 per hour on and after January 1, 2025 If you have any questions about New York State's minimum wage, please see the State Department of Labor's minimum wage resource page (/minimum-wage-0) .
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