New Jersey’s minimum wage rises to $16.48 in 2027: here’s who gets a raise
Do you remember how much you made at your very first job? I'll never forget my first job as a teenager: I was a cashier at Genuardi's grocery store, and I thought that making $7.25 an hour was the big time.
Then, a few years later, I moved on to work at a deli just outside of Sea Isle City in the summer, and they paid me a whopping $8.50 an hour, which sounds sarcastic, but working full-time in the summer as a 20-something-year-old kid, it felt like a ton of money.
Nowadays, $8.50 is a joke wage, and if you want to live in Jersey, even on minimum wage, that's not even going to cut it. At this point in time, minimum wage in Jersey is $15.92, which isn't bad if you're a kid working a part-time job or a full-time summer job, but it's still not enough to get by in the state of New Jersey if you're on minimum wage full-time.
NJ Set To Raise The Minimum Wage Starting On January 1st, 2027
Starting on January 1st of, 2027, minimum wage workers in Jersey will get a little pay boost, although according to most experts, it's still not enough to stay afloat in the Garden State.
How Much Will NJ's Minimum Wage Increase By In 2027?
According to NJ.gov, starting on January 1st, 2027, the minimum wage in Jersey will increase from $15.92, up 56 cents to $16.48 an hour.
Agricultural Workers Also See A Bump In Minimum Wage
And if you're an agricultural worker, you get a nice boost from a minimum wage of $ 14.20 an hour up to $15.
Small Business Employees And Seasonal Workers Will Also Get A Raise
And if you're a seasonal employee, or a buisness that employees less than six people, minimum wage will increase from $15.23 up to $16.25, starting on January 1st.
