New Jersey & Other State’s Minimum Wage to Increase in 2025

New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage will increase by US$0.36 to $15.49 per hour for most employees, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) sets the minimum wage for the coming year based on any increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Aligning the state minimum wage with any increases in the cost of living is a critical step toward economic fairness and security for all New Jersey workers,” said Robert Asaro-Angelo, labor commissioner. “This adjustment fosters a more equitable economy and ensures our workforce can continue to thrive.”

Under the law, the minimum wage rate for employees of seasonal and small employers will continue to increase gradually until 2028 to lessen the impact on those businesses. The minimum hourly wage for these employees will increase to $14.53 on Jan. 1, up from $13.73.

New Jersey’s minimum wage increase is not unlike increases set for other states and cities. In 2025, minimum wage in  Rhode Island, Illinois, and Delaware wage is set to increase to $15 per hour. New York State’s minimum wage will increase to $15.50 on Jan. 1, 2025. On July 1, Chicago already set its minimum wage at $16.20 an hour.

Other states with minimum wages set at $15 or more include: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, and Washington, D.C. Currently, Washington, D.C., has the highest state/territory minimum at $17.50.

In November, voters will decide whether to increase California’s minimum wage gradually to $18 an hour, which would be the highest statewide minimum wage by 2026. In California, fast-food workers already must be paid at least $20 per hour. Nearly 40 California cities already have local minimum wages higher than the state’s.