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New York Minimum Wage 2021
A quick guide for employees to understand New York Minimum Wage in 2021
Minimum Wage in New York
New York State’s Minimum Wage in 2021 is $12.50 per hour. However, the Federal Minimum Wage in New York State is $7.25, which is lesser than the NYS minimum wage. Hence employers are entitled to pay the higher state minimum wage to their employees.
This minimum wage is applicable to most of the employees in NYS, with limited exceptions including some student workers, tipped employees, and other exempt occupations.
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The New York’s minimum wage is linked to consumer price index, which means, the minimum wage rate would increase along with the rise of inflation and it is re-evaluated yearly based on these values.
Employees in New York City
Minimum wage in New York City 2021 is $15.00 per hour for employers with 11 employees or more (considered as “large” employers). NYC employers with 10 or fewer employees are considered as “small” employers and their minimum wage is $15 per hour.
Employees in Long Island and Westchester Counties
The minimum wage for employees in Long Island and Westchester Counties is $14.00 per hour. Employees working in these regions will see incremental increase of $1.00 per hour each year until the minimum wage reaches its desired maximum when it becomes $15.00 per hour effective December 31, 2021.
Employees in all other NYS Counties
The minimum wage for employees in counties outside New York City metro area will see different standards when it comes to rate increases. At the end of each following year, its employees will see the minimum wage increase to $11.10, $11.80 and $12.50 at the end of December 31, 2020. While the projections only show the rate increase to $12.50 per hour, the lawmakers have shown their intention of increasing the minimum wage rate to $15.00 per hour statewide.
| Effective Date | NYC Large Employers | NYC Small Employers | Long Island and Westchester Counties Employers | Employees in all other NYS Counties |
| 31 Dec 2016 | $11.00 | $10.50 | $10.00 | $9.70 |
| 31 Dec 2017 | $13.00 | $12.00 | $11.00 | $10.40 |
| 31 Dec 2018 | $15.00 | $13.50 | $12.00 | $11.10 |
| 31 Dec 2019 | $15.00 | $13.00 | $11.80 | |
| 31 Dec 2020 | $14.00 | $12.50 | ||
| 31 Dec 2021 | $15.00 |
Employers of fast food workers
The current minimum wage rate per hour for the fast food workers in the state of New York is $12.75 per hour and in New York City is $15.00 per hour. There are regular increase in the state for fast food workers through 2021. The scheduled increase is as follows:
- $12.75 on 31 December 2018
- $13.75 on 31 December 2019
- $14.50 on 31 December 2020
- $15.00 on 31 December 2021
Starting 2021, the annual minimum wage rates per hour will be published by the commissioner of Labor on or before October 1, which will be based on the consumer price index and based on percentage increases determined by the Director of the Division of Budget.
Overtime Minimum Wage in New York State
According to the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and State Law (New York Minimum Wage Law), employers are required to pay overtime wages for work performed after 40 hours per week. The overtime minimum wage charges in New York State are incremental and vary based on where the employer is located along with the number of employees employed by the employer. The following table illustrates the incremental increase in the overtime salary of New York State employers between both large and small companies.
| Effective Date | NYC Large Employers | NYC Small Employers | Long Island and Westchester Counties Employers | Employees in all other NYS Counties |
| 31 Dec 2016 | $825/week | $787/week | $750/week | $727.50/week |
| 31 Dec 2017 | $975/week | $900/week | $825/week | $780/week |
| 31 Dec 2018 | $1,125/week | $1,012.50/week | $900/week | $832/week |
| 31 Dec 2019 | $1,125/week | $975/week | $885/week | |
| 31 Dec 2020 | $1,050/week | $937.50/week | ||
| 31 Dec 2021 | $1,125/week |
Employers in New York City
Employers in New York City will see their overtime salary threshold increase to $1,125 per week, which is about $58,500 annually with the only distinction being between “large” and “small” employers. For large employers (11 employees or more), the current overtime salary threshold is $1,125 per week. For small employers (10 employees or less), the current overtime salary threshold is $1,012.50 per week which is set to increase to $1,125 per week on December 31, 2019.
Employers in Long Island and Westchester Counties
Similar to the New York City Employers, businesses in Long Island and Westchester Counties will also see their overtime salary threshold increase to $1,125 per week by the end of December 31, 2021. Current overtime salary threshold is $900 per week, which is set to increase to $975 per week on December 31, 2019 and $1,050 per week the following year before it finally reaches to $1,125 per week on December 31, 2021.
Employers in other New York State counties
Businesses in New York State counties outside of New York City metro area will see gradual, incremental increase in the overtime salary threshold which finalizes to $937.50 per week ($48,750 annually) which will take effect on 31st December 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions on New York State Minimum Wage and Labor Laws:
- What is the minimum wage in New York City?
- The current minimum wage in NYC is $15.00 for large employers (more than or equal to 10 employees) and $15 for small employers (less than or equal to 10 employees).
- How much will I earn working a minimum wage job in New York State?
- The New York State minimum wage is $12.50 per hour as on 31st December 2020.
- What is the New York under 18 minimum wage?
- For employees under 18 years of age, the minimum wage in New York is $7.25 per hour. However, your eligibility for the minimum wage depends on what work you do and in which county you work.
