New Jersey minimum wage by employer/worker type (2026)
| Category | Rate (January 1, 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most employers (general) | $15.92/hr | Standard rate — applies to the majority of NJ workers |
| Seasonal / small employers (<6 employees) | $15.23/hr | Separate annual schedule; lower than standard rate |
| Agricultural workers | $14.20/hr | Separate annual schedule; lowest statutory rate |
| Tipped employees (cash wage) | $6.05/hr | Employer must ensure wages + tips equal standard minimum |
| Long-term care direct care staff | $18.92/hr | Highest statutory rate; premium for LTC direct care workers |
All rates confirmed from the official New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development minimum wage postcard (minimumwage_postcard.pdf, nj.gov/labor), effective January 1, 2026.
How New Jersey's five-tier system works
New Jersey's minimum wage is governed by the NJ State Wage and Hour Law (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a et seq.) and adjusts each January 1 based on CPI inflation. The five tiers each follow their own schedule, so they can move at different rates from year to year. The NJ DOL publishes an annual minimum wage postcard (minimumwage_postcard.pdf) with all current rates — this is the authoritative source for verifying which rate applies.
Tipped employee rules
New Jersey allows employers to pay tipped employees a cash wage of $6.05 per hour effective January 1, 2026. Tips must bring total hourly compensation to at least $15.92/hr (the standard minimum wage). If tips fall short in any workweek, the employer must pay the difference. The tipped cash wage is separately tracked and adjusts on its own schedule.
Long-term care direct care workers
New Jersey established a premium minimum wage for long-term care facility direct care workers — $18.92/hr as of January 1, 2026. This rate is $3.00/hr above the standard rate and reflects a legislative priority to attract and retain care workers in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and similar settings. Verify the applicable definition of "direct care staff" with the NJ DOL before applying this rate.
Worked examples
Example 1: standard employer, non-tipped worker
Example 2: agricultural worker
Example 3: long-term care direct care staff
What this does not determine
- Whether a specific employer qualifies as a "seasonal" or "small employer" under the NJ definition (<6 employees) — requires reviewing actual employment numbers and seasonal status.
- Whether a worker qualifies as "direct care staff" for the $18.92/hr LTC rate — requires verifying the NJ DOL's current definition.
- NJ overtime rules — New Jersey uses the FLSA 40-hour threshold under N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a et seq.; verify current rules at nj.gov/labor.
- NJ Earned Sick Leave — 1 hr per 30 hrs worked, up to 40 hrs/year, all employer sizes; see nj.gov/labor for details.
New Jersey statute and enforcement
New Jersey's minimum wage is codified in the NJ State Wage and Hour Law, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a et seq. The NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development enforces the law. Employees who believe they have been underpaid may file a wage complaint at nj.gov/labor. Final wages are due by the next regular payday regardless of whether the employee quit or was fired, per NJ DOL FAQ.
New Jersey vs. neighboring Delaware
Neighboring Delaware completed its phase-in to $15.00/hr on January 1, 2025 (Del. Code tit. 19, § 902(a)(5)) with a flat rate for all employers and no CPI indexing. New Jersey's standard rate of $15.92/hr already exceeds Delaware by $0.92/hr and will continue to diverge as NJ's CPI indexing updates annually. Delaware has no multi-tier system — one rate applies to all employers.
Sources and verification
All five tier rates were verified from the official New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development minimum wage postcard (minimumwage_postcard.pdf), the primary NJ DOL source for current minimum wage rates. The statute reference is N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a et seq. See the site's methodology for how rates are verified before publication.