New Jersey Minimum Wage for 2023, 2024
Contents :: New Jersey Minimum Wage
New Jersey's state minimum wage rate is $15.13 per hour. This is greater than the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25. You are entitled to be paid the higher state minimum wage. The minimum wage applies to most employees in New Jersey, with limited exceptions including tipped employees, some student workers, and other exempt occupations.†
The New Jersey minimum wage was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $7.98 from $7.15 to $15.13. New Jersey's minimum wage rate is linked to a Consumer Price Index, which is intended to raise the rate along with inflation. The current minimum wage rate is re-evaluated yearly based on these values.
The minimum wage in New Jersey is $15.13 per hour. Seasonal and small businesses (fewer than 6) is $13.73, and agriculture workers: $12.81. The tipped minimum wage is $5.26.
New Jersey employers may not pay you under $15.13 per hour unless you or your occupation are specifically exempt from the minimum wage under state or federal law.
If you have questions about the New Jersey minimum wage, please ask us and someone will respond to you as soon as possible. Looking for a new job? Use the free New Jersey job search utility to find local job openings hiring now.
All New Jersey employers must display an approved New Jersey minimum wage poster in a prominent place to inform employees about the minimum wage and their worker's rights under New Jersey labor law.
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New Jersey Minimum Wage & Labor Law Posters
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New Jersey labor law requires all employers in New Jersey to visibly display an approved New Jersey minimum wage poster, and other New Jersey and federal labor law posters, to ensure that all employees are aware of federal and New Jersey labor law and overtime regulations. Failure to display a New Jersey labor law poster in the workplace can result in severe fines.
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Instead of printing out pages of mandatory New Jersey and Federal labor law posters, you can purchase a professional, laminated all-in-one labor law poster that guarantees compliance with all New Jersey and federal posting requirements. Fully updated for December 2017!
Get All-In-One Poster NowThe New Jersey minimum wage poster, and additional required New Jersey labor law posters, are also available on the New Jersey labor law posters download page.
New Jersey Overtime Minimum Wage
All workers who put in over 40 weekly hours are entitled to a minimum wage of at least 1.5 times the regular applicable minimum wage (learn more about New Jersey overtime pay). Some states require workers who work over a certain number of daily hours to be eligible for this overtime rate as well (New Jersey law does not specify a daily overtime limit).
The FLSA guarantees all NJ employees adequate overtime compensation for all qualifying overtime hours worked. If your employer does not pay adequate overtime wages, you can file an unpaid overtime claim with the New Jersey Department of Labor.
New Jersey Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to any New Jersey-specific minimum wage exemptions described above, the Federal Fair Labor Standards act defines special minimum wage rates applicable to certain types of workers. You may be paid under the New Jersey minimum wage if you fit into one of the following categories:
- New Jersey Under 20 Minimum Wage - $4.25 - Federal law allows any employer in New Jersey to pay a new employee who is under 20 years of age a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
- New Jersey Student Minimum Wage - $12.86 - Full-time high school or college students who work part-time may be paid 85% of the New Jersey minimum wage (as little as $12.86 per hour) for up to 20 hours of work per week at certain employers (such as work-study programs at universities).
- New Jersey Tipped Minimum Wage - See Here - Employees who earn a certain amount of tips every month may be paid a lower cash minimum wage, but must earn at least $15.13 including tips every hour. For more details, read about the New Jersey tipped minimum wage.
Frequently Asked Questions - New Jersey Minimum Wage & Labor Law
- What is the New Jersey minimum wage?
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The current New Jersey minimum wage of $15.13 per hour is the lowest amount a non-exempt employee in New Jersey can legally be paid for hourly work. Special minimum wage rates, such as the "New Jersey waitress minimum wage" for tipped employees, may apply to certain workers.[1]
- How much will I earn working a minimum wage jobin New Jersey?
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A full time minimum wage worker in New Jersey working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, will earn $121.04 per day, $605.20 per week, and $31,470.40 per year1. The national poverty line for a family unit consisting of two people is $16,020.00 per year.
- What is the New Jersey under 18 minimum wage?
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New Jersey employers may pay 18 year olds and minors the youth minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days of employment. Other labor law exemptions for minors in New Jersey may exist.
- I still can't find the answer to my question about the New Jersey minimum wage!
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If you have read the FAQ and still cannot find the information you need, please contact us with your question.
1 These earnings estimates do not account for the New Jersey income tax , federal income tax, or local/municipal income taxes.
2 Poverty line for a family of two in the lower 48 published 2016 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Labor Law Footnotes, Sources & Citations:
- The weekly earnings estimate of $605.20 is based on a standard 40-hour workweek
- The yearly earnings estimate of $31,470.40 is based on 52 standard 40-hour work weeks. Since most hourly employees don't work full time and/or take time off, actual yearly earnings will likely be lower.