New Jersey Employment Law: Wages, Final Pay, Breaks and Your Rights at Work
New Jersey employment law: minimum wage, overtime, breaks, final paycheck deadlines, PTO payout, sick leave, at-will exceptions and where to file a wage claim.
Quick answers for New Jersey
- Minimum wage
- $15.92 per hour for most employers since January 1, 2026; $15.23 for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees; $14.20 for agricultural employers; $18.92 for direct care staff at long-term care facilities. New Jersey minimum wage chart (MW-570)
- Final paycheck if fired or laid off
- Final wages may be paid on the next regular payday for the pay period, whether the employee was fired or quit. New Jersey Wage and Hour worker FAQs
- Meal and rest breaks
- No state requirement for adults; break and lunch periods are set by company policy. Minors under 18 must get a 30-minute meal period after 5 consecutive hours. New Jersey Wage and Hour worker FAQs
- Unused vacation / PTO payout
- Not required by state law. If an employer offers vacation or other paid time off, it must follow its own established policy or agreement, and an employee may have a claim if it does not. New Jersey Wage and Hour worker FAQs
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Pay
| Minimum wage | $15.92 per hour for most employers since January 1, 2026; $15.23 for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees; $14.20 for agricultural employers; $18.92 for direct care staff at long-term care facilities. Scheduled increase on January 1, 2027: $16.48 for most employers; $16.25 for seasonal and small employers; $15.00 for agricultural employers; $19.48 for long-term care direct care staff. The rate may keep rising each January 1 with inflation. |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage | Employers must pay tipped workers a cash wage of at least $6.05 per hour in 2026, and wages plus tips must reach the full minimum wage; the employer must make up any difference. Scheduled change: cash wage of $6.61 per hour on January 1, 2027. |
| Overtime | Time and one-half for hours actually worked over 40 in a 7-day workweek. No daily overtime and no premium required for weekends or holidays. Employees cannot waive overtime pay. |
| How often you must be paid | At least twice a month on regular paydays set in advance. Certain executive, supervisory and other special classes of workers may be paid monthly on a regular schedule. |
| Pay stubs | Each payday, a paper or electronic statement listing gross and net wages and each itemized deduction. |
Breaks and leave
| Meal and rest breaks | No state requirement for adults; break and lunch periods are set by company policy. Minors under 18 must get a 30-minute meal period after 5 consecutive hours. |
|---|---|
| Paid sick leave | Employers of all sizes must provide earned sick leave: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per benefit year, for full-time, part-time and temporary employees. |
Leaving a job
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | Final wages may be paid on the next regular payday for the pay period, whether the employee was fired or quit. |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | Final wages may be paid on the next regular payday for the pay period. |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Not required by state law. If an employer offers vacation or other paid time off, it must follow its own established policy or agreement, and an employee may have a claim if it does not. |
| Unemployment benefits | New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Insurance. Create an online account and file a claim at myunemployment.nj.gov. |
Firing, retaliation and discrimination
| Job discrimination complaints | New Jersey Division on Civil Rights enforces the Law Against Discrimination. A complaint with the Division must involve an act within the past 180 days. |
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Where to get help in New Jersey
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Wage and Hour Compliance
- File a complaint or claim
Employment Law FAQ
What is the minimum wage in New Jersey?
$15.92 per hour for most employers since January 1, 2026; $15.23 for seasonal employers and employers with fewer than 6 employees; $14.20 for agricultural employers; $18.92 for direct care staff at long-term care facilities.
What is the tipped minimum wage in New Jersey?
Employers must pay tipped workers a cash wage of at least $6.05 per hour in 2026, and wages plus tips must reach the full minimum wage; the employer must make up any difference.
What are the overtime rules in New Jersey?
Time and one-half for hours actually worked over 40 in a 7-day workweek. No daily overtime and no premium required for weekends or holidays. Employees cannot waive overtime pay.
Are breaks required by law in New Jersey?
No state requirement for adults; break and lunch periods are set by company policy. Minors under 18 must get a 30-minute meal period after 5 consecutive hours.
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in New Jersey?
Final wages may be paid on the next regular payday for the pay period, whether the employee was fired or quit.
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in New Jersey?
Final wages may be paid on the next regular payday for the pay period.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in New Jersey?
Not required by state law. If an employer offers vacation or other paid time off, it must follow its own established policy or agreement, and an employee may have a claim if it does not.
How often must employees be paid in New Jersey?
At least twice a month on regular paydays set in advance. Certain executive, supervisory and other special classes of workers may be paid monthly on a regular schedule.
Do employers have to give pay stubs in New Jersey?
Each payday, a paper or electronic statement listing gross and net wages and each itemized deduction.
Is paid sick leave required in New Jersey?
Employers of all sizes must provide earned sick leave: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per benefit year, for full-time, part-time and temporary employees.
Where do I file a job discrimination complaint in New Jersey?
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights enforces the Law Against Discrimination. A complaint with the Division must involve an act within the past 180 days.
How do I apply for unemployment in New Jersey?
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Insurance. Create an online account and file a claim at myunemployment.nj.gov.
Employment Law in other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.