Employment & Worker Protection · New Jersey
New Jersey Minimum Wage
N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a4 - enacted in New Jersey.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- New Jersey strictness
The bottom line
New Jersey Minimum Wage is an enacted law in New Jersey, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2024-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 48/100
- New Jersey strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official New Jersey legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: New Jersey Minimum Wage
New Jersey Minimum Wage (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a4) is an enacted law in New Jersey under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-02-04 and becomes effective on 2024-01-01. New Jersey currently reports 4 tracked regulations with 4 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places New Jersey within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a4 itself.
Applicability under New Jersey Minimum Wage: All NJ employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor and Workforce Development enforcement. Back wages + 200% penalty. Notable exemptions: Small businesses, seasonal, farm (different schedules). Agricultural workers at $12.81/hr..
Summary
New Jersey minimum wage $15.49/hr (2025). CPI-indexed annually. Small employers and farm workers on different schedules.
Key Requirements
$15.49/hr large employers (2025). Small/seasonal: $13.73/hr. Tipped: $5.62/hr. Annual CPI adjustment.
Penalties
Dept of Labor and Workforce Development enforcement. Back wages + 200% penalty.
Applicability
All NJ employers.
Exemptions
Small businesses, seasonal, farm (different schedules). Agricultural workers at $12.81/hr.
How New Jersey compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - New Jersey ranks #16 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. New Jersey is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was New Jersey Minimum Wage enacted?
New Jersey Minimum Wage was enacted on 2019-02-04 and became effective on 2024-01-01. It was introduced as N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a4.
What are the penalties for violating New Jersey Minimum Wage?
Dept of Labor and Workforce Development enforcement. Back wages + 200% penalty. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does New Jersey Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
All NJ employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does New Jersey compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
New Jersey has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 4 enacted regulations out of 4 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of New Jersey Minimum Wage?
The official text of New Jersey Minimum Wage (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a4) is available from the New Jersey legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More New Jersey Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- New Jersey Minimum Wage is enacted in New Jersey, effective 2024-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; New Jersey ranks #16 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation New Jersey tracks across all five policy areas. New Jersey profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official New Jersey source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.