On February 4, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a bill (A-15) that will increase New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024 for the majority of New Jersey’s workers. Pursuant to the new law, the State’s minimum wage, which is currently $8.85 per hour, will increase according to the following schedule:
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$10 per hour on July 1, 2019
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$11 per hour on January 1, 2020
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$12 per hour on January 1, 2021
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$13 per hour on January 1, 2022
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$14 per hour on January 1, 2023
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$15 per hour on January 1, 2024
Notably, certain types of employees are placed on a slower path to $15. For example, seasonal workers and employees working for businesses that employ 5 employees or less will not reach $15 per hour until 2026. The minimum wage for farm workers will increase to $12.50 by 2024, with the possibility to attain $15 per hour by 2027 if approved by state officials.
New Jersey has now joined California, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington D.C., as well as other cities and localities, in raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
