Overview
- Hourly pay floors rise to $17 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and to $16 in the rest of the state effective January 1, 2026.
- The state Labor Department set new exempt-salary thresholds that expand overtime eligibility to more workers starting January 1.
- Exempt employees must earn at least $1,275 per week ($66,300 annually) in NYC, Long Island and Westchester, and $1,199.10 per week ($62,353.20 annually) elsewhere in the state to remain exempt.
- The professional exemption remains at the federal level of $684 per week ($35,568 annually) after a federal judge blocked an attempted increase.
- The changes continue a multi‑year plan agreed by Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature that uses regional wage tiers reflecting differing living costs.