New York State minimum wage, exempt salary threshold will increase January 1

Starting in the new year, employers in New York State need to be aware of increases to the hourly minimum wage and the minimum weekly salary for exempt executive and administrative employees and make any necessary adjustments to remain in compliance.

Hourly minimum wage

Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County will rise to $17 per hour. Also effective January 1, the minimum wage in the rest of New York State will rise to $16 per hour.

Please note that special rules apply to home healthcare workers and to tipped food service workers.

Minimum weekly salary

Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum weekly salary for exempt executive and administrative employees in New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County will rise to $1,275 per week ($66,300 per year).

Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum weekly salary for exempt executive and administrative employees in the rest of New York State will rise to $1,199.10 per week ($62,353.20 per year).

New York State does not have a salary threshold for exempt professional employees. Accordingly, the minimum weekly salary for exempt professional employees in all of New York State will remain at $684 per week ($35,568) per year under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).