NEW YORK, NY\u2014 More than a million workers in New York City could see their hourly pay climb to $30 under legislation a City Council member plans to introduce that would phase in one of the highest minimum wages in the United States.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Sandra Nurse said the bill would raise the city\u2019s minimum wage in stages, reaching $30 an hour by 2030 for large employers. The current minimum wage stands at $17.<\/p>\n
The Brooklyn Democrat plans to launch the legislative push with a rally on the steps of City Hall.<\/p>\n
Supporters say the proposal responds to rising living costs across the city.<\/p>\n
Nurse said the current minimum wage leaves many workers struggling to meet basic expenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s essentially a crisis for most people on a weekly basis,\u201d Nurse said.<\/p>\n
The measure would affect more than one million workers who earn the city\u2019s minimum wage, more than a quarter of the local labor force, according to a 2023 report from then\u2013City Comptroller Brad Lander.<\/p>\n
The legislation outlines different timelines for large and small employers.<\/p>\n
Companies with more than 500 employees would have to raise wages to $20 an hour by 2027 and reach $30 an hour by 2030.<\/p>\n
Businesses with fewer than 500 employees would increase pay to $21.50 by 2028 and reach $30 an hour by 2032. Future increases would be tied to changes in the cost of living.<\/p>\n
No U.S. city currently requires a $30 minimum wage.<\/p>\n
Several cities have adopted higher wage floors in recent years. Workers in Flagstaff earn at least $18.35 an hour. The minimum wage in Denver stands at $19.29, and Seattle requires $21.30 an hour.<\/p>\n
Hospitality workers in Los Angeles are scheduled to reach $30 an hour by 2028, while certain tourism workers in San Diego will receive $25 an hour by 2030, according to the National Employment Law Project.<\/p>\n
The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are so behind,\u201d Nurse said. \u201cAnd the cost of living in those cities is significantly lower than what New York City workers are facing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposal mirrors a key campaign pledge from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who called for a $30 minimum wage during his run for office.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, Mamdani said he aimed to ensure \u201cNew Yorkers have a high quality of life, top-tier public safety, the ability to pay rent and afford child care.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city last enacted a major minimum wage increase during the 2010s, when the rate rose to $15 an hour for businesses with at least 11 employees, according to the New York State Department of Labor. The minimum wage increased again to $17 at the start of the year.<\/p>\n
Business leaders have raised concerns about the new proposal, warning that higher labor costs could strain small businesses.<\/p>\n
The debate unfolds amid economic uncertainty tied to global conflicts, rising energy prices and trade disruptions linked to tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Some research suggests higher minimum wages do not necessarily lead to job losses.<\/p>\n