At a glance
- Minimum wage: $15.92 an hour, rising to $16.48 for most employers on January 1, 2027. $15.92 for most employers; $15.23 for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees.
- Tipped cash wage: $6.05.
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: by the next regular payday.
- Paid sick leave: Yes. Paid family leave program: Yes.
What New Jersey employers need to know
New Jersey's minimum wage now adjusts for inflation every January, with lower rates for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees. Earned sick leave covers every employer, and the state's family leave insurance and temporary disability insurance programs are among the oldest in the country. New Jersey also has a strict test for independent contractors, which makes classification a common audit issue.
New Jersey minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $15.92 $15.92 for most employers; $15.23 for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees. |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $6.05 |
| Next change | $16.48 for most employers on January 1, 2027 |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay New York ($17.00), Pennsylvania ($7.25), Delaware ($15.00). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
New Jersey overtime rules
The federal FLSA rule applies: overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no daily overtime rule.
Exempt salary test: the federal minimum of $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. Duties tests apply too, so job titles alone don't make someone exempt.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
New Jersey meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: No state meal break law for adult employees. Federal law doesn't require meal breaks either, but if you give one of 30 minutes or more and the employee is fully relieved of duty, it can be unpaid.
Rest breaks: No state rest break law for adults. Under federal law, short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
New Jersey final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | By the next regular payday. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Not required by state law. Follow your written policy or contract, and apply it consistently. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
New Jersey paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: Earned Sick Leave: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, for employers of every size.
Paid family and medical leave: Family Leave Insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance: up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and 26 weeks of disability benefits, funded by payroll contributions.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: Required for employers with 10 or more employees since June 1, 2025: pay range and benefits in postings, and promotion notices to current staff.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: Yes. Register with the state tax agency before the first payroll.
State disability insurance: New Jersey requires temporary disability insurance coverage, funded at least in part through payroll.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up New Jersey employers
- Seasonal employers and those with fewer than 6 employees have a lower minimum wage.
- Pay ranges must appear in postings for employers with 10 or more employees.
- New Jersey uses the ABC test for independent contractors, with steep penalties for misclassification.
Sources and the agency to contact
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
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<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/new-jersey/">New Jersey labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "New Jersey labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/new-jersey/
Frequently asked questions
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.