Living Wage Law

Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act

New York City enacted The Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, also known as the Living Wage Law, on June 28, 2012. The Living Wage Law requires certain employers that receive at least $1 million of financial assistance from the City or a City economic development entity to pay no less than the living wage to their employees at the project site, unless the employer qualifies for certain exemptions.

On September 30, 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Executive Order No. 7, which broadened the scope, applicability and impact of the Living Wage Law by, among other things, increasing the living wage rate and specifying "additional covered employers" that are required to pay a living wage to their project-site employees.

Annual Living Wage Adjustment

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 7, DCWP annually announces adjustments to the living wage based on the Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.

As of January 1, 2025, the living wage rate and health benefit supplement are as follows:

Living Wage Rate: $16.50
Health Benefit Supplement: $2.15

As of April 1, 2025, the living wage rate and health benefit supplement are as follows:

Living Wage Rate: $16.50
Health Benefit Supplement: $2.20

PLEASE NOTE: The New York State Minimum Wage exceeds the Living Wage Rate. Accordingly, the applicable Minimum Wage is set as the Living Wage Rate. Effective January 1, 2025, the New York State Minimum Wage for New York City increased from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour.  

Please note that the rates indicated above generally do not apply to projects subject to the Living Wage Law that were authorized prior to September 30, 2014 or financial assistance awarded prior to September 30, 2014. Projects that are covered by the Living Wage Law but were exempted from the Executive Order are still obligated to pay at least the living wage rate published by the Comptroller. Please visit the Comptroller's website for more information and to file a complaint.