Minimum Wage to Rise to $16 an Hour in Monroe County on Jan. 1

Workers in Monroe County will see their minimum wage rise to $16.00 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2026, as New York State implements the latest step in a multi-year plan to increase wages and protect workers from rising living costs.

The increase represents a 50-cent per hour raise from 2025 rates and applies to Monroe County and the rest of upstate New York. Higher minimum wage rates will also take effect downstate, with workers in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island earning $17.00 per hour starting in January.

State Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, whose district includes parts of Monroe County, said the increase is designed to make New York more affordable for working families while strengthening long-term economic stability.

“Meaningful increases in minimum wage are investments in making New York more affordable for workers,” Bronson said in a statement. “These increases ensure wages keep pace with the cost of living and help dollars stretch further for hard-working New Yorkers.”

The scheduled wage hike is part of the Legislature’s 2023 “Raise the Wage” initiative, which established a gradual path to higher pay while giving businesses — particularly small businesses — time to adjust. Supporters of the policy say the approach balances worker protections with economic predictability for employers.

Beginning in 2027, New York’s minimum wage will be indexed to inflation, with annual adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast region. Lawmakers say the change is intended to prevent workers from falling behind as costs for housing, food and transportation rise.

Bronson said indexing wages to inflation is especially important during periods of economic uncertainty.

“This was about doing right for New Yorkers and creating an economy that supports both our businesses and our families,” he said.

To help ensure compliance, the New York State Department of Labor is offering free educational seminars for employers on wage and labor law requirements. Workers who do not see the required increase reflected in their paychecks beginning in January can file a wage complaint, call 833-910-4378, or visit the state’s Wage Theft Hub.

The increase is expected to affect thousands of workers across Monroe County, particularly in retail, food service, health care and service industries, as the region enters the new year with a higher wage floor.