Minimum Wage Increases January 1st

The state’s minimum wage will increase at the start of the new year once again. Under a plan adopted two years ago, the minimum wage is increasing to $16.50 downstate and $15.50 in the rest of the state. Also changing in the new year are the cash wages for foodservice service worker, service workers, and the credits employers can take for tips earned by their employees. The new wage rates effective January 1, 2025 are:

General minimum wage rates:                                     Downstate*     Upstate**

$16.50      $15.50

Foodservice workers minimum wage rates:                Downstate*     Upstate**

$11.00      $10.35

Service workers minimum wage rates:                        Downstate*      Upstate**

$13.75      $12.90

 * Downstate includes New York City & Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties

**Upstate includes the remainder of New York State

In addition, increases in required uniform maintenance payments and meal credits also take effect January 1st.

Uniforms – An employer that does not maintain required uniforms for their employees is required to provide uniform maintenance pay based on the number of hours worked. Employees who work over 30 hours per week shall be paid the high rate, employees who work more than 20 hours but fewer than 30 hours shall be paid the medium rate and employees who work 20 hours or fewer shall be paid the low rate listed below:

*Downstate:    $20.50 High, $16.25 Medium, $9.80 Low

**Upstate:       $19.25 High, $15.30 Medium, $9.25 Low

 * Downstate includes New York City & Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties

**Upstate includes the remainder of New York State

Meals – Meals furnished by an employer to an employee may be considered part of the wages and employers may take a credit at no more than the per meal amounts listed below at the food service rate for food service workers, the service rate for service employees, and the other rate for non-service employees:

*Downstate:    $3.95 Food Service, $4.60 Service, $5.65 Other per meal

**Upstate:       $3.95 Food Service, $4.25 Service, $5.35 Other per meal

 * Downstate includes New York City & Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties

**Upstate includes the remainder of New York State

You will need to post a 2025 Hospitality Industry Minimum Wage Poster with the updated wage information on or before January 1st. You can download copies of the new minimum wage notice and find more information on the Department of Labor’s website.