N.Y. minimum wage is rising in 2026: Here’s the new rate.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Those earning minimum wage in New York are set to receive a raise at the start of the new year.

On Jan. 1, 2026, the minimum wage will increase to $17 an hour in New York City and Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties and to $16 an hour in all other parts of the state, according to the state Labor Department.

Currently, minimum wage is $16.50 in New York City, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties and $15.50 in all other counties in the Empire State.

Starting in 2027, New York will increase its minimum wage by the three-year moving average of the CPI-W for the Northeast Region, tying the increases to the rate of inflation to ensure workers can afford the rising costs of living.

“In the face of steadily rising costs and inflation, this historic plan to overhaul New York’s minimum wage will ensure that the wages of those hit hardest by the affordability crisis — including women, single mothers and people of color — keep pace with the cost of living,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said when announcing the new increase formula in 2023.

“This is a win for workers and for businesses: indexing the minimum wage to inflation will help hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers maintain their purchasing power, contribute to the state economy, and support our small business community,” the governor added.

The state’s minimum wage has grown significantly over the past 12 years, doubling from $8 in 2014 to $16 in 2026, according to the state Labor Department.