New Jersey and Ohio Raise Minimum Wages for 2027

New Jersey and Ohio will implement minimum wage increases effective January 1, 2027, with both states tying adjustments to inflation data. In New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced a standard hourly rate increase of 56 cents, bringing the minimum wage to $16.48. This adjustment relies on Consumer Price Index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

New Jersey's update includes specific tiers for different worker categories. Farm workers will reach a $15 per hour benchmark, while direct care staff in long-term care facilities will see their rate rise to $19.48. Employees of seasonal businesses or those with fewer than six staff will move to $16.25 per hour. Tipped workers will see a minimum cash wage of $6.61, with a maximum tip credit of $9.87. Acting Labor Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis noted that the $15 mark for agricultural workers is a meaningful step toward industry equity.

In Ohio, the minimum wage for nontipped employees will rise by 40 cents to $11.40 per hour, while tipped workers will move to $5.70. This change reflects a 3.5% inflation increase as mandated by a 2006 constitutional amendment. Additionally, Ohio has raised the business gross receipts threshold for this wage requirement to $420,000.