New Jersey announced September 29 that its minimum wage for most employees will rise 56 cents to $16.48 an hour on January 1, 2027. The announcement sets a future wage floor; it does not change the rate owed for work performed before that effective date.
Workers for seasonal and small employers with fewer than six employees have a separate $16.25 rate. Agricultural workers reach $15 an hour, and long-term-care direct-care staff have a $19.48 minimum. These categories matter when checking a pay stub against a headline number.
The tipped-worker cash minimum rises to $6.61. The maximum tip credit stays $9.87, but if cash wages plus tips do not reach the applicable minimum, the employer must make up the difference. A low cash wage is not permission to leave a worker below the full legal floor.
Keep records of hours, tips and the employer category before comparing pay. An announced increase does not guarantee more take-home income for every person already earning above the minimum. It does give affected workers a dated benchmark for checking payroll after January 1 rather than relying on an employer's generic claim that tips cover everything.