New Jersey labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
The US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026) lists New Jersey's basic minimum rate as: $15.92. Other rates or conditions in the DOL entry are quoted below. The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) does not list a meal-period requirement for New Jersey, and its rest-period table does not list a paid rest-period requirement (the DOL notes: states not listed do not require paid rest periods).
New Jersey labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for New Jersey | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.92 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | Not listed | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | Not listed; DOL: states not listed do not require paid rest periods | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40-6 non-school day/week 3-18-6 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | 8-40-6 - Workers 16 and up may work up to 50 hours in one week and up to 10 hours a day only between the last day of school and Labor Day. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from last day of school through Labor Day in non-school weeks with written permission) to 7 a.m. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during school term, with specified variations | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in New Jersey
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.92
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40
The minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula.
There is a minimum wage of $15.23 per hour for employers who employ fewer than 6 people and employees engaged in seasonal employment.
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in New Jersey
New Jersey is not listed in the DOL table of state meal-period requirements for adult private-sector employees (revised January 1, 2023). The US DOL states: "Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the workweek and considered in determining if overtime was worked."
The DOL lists New Jersey among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
Rest breaks in New Jersey
New Jersey is not listed in the DOL table of paid rest-period requirements (revised January 1, 2023). The DOL table states: "States not listed do not require paid rest periods."
Scheduling minors in New Jersey
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40-6 non-school day/week 3-18-6 school day/week | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from last day of school through Labor Day in non-school weeks with written permission) to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 | 8-40-6 - Workers 16 and up may work up to 50 hours in one week and up to 10 hours a day only between the last day of school and Labor Day. | 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during school term, with specified variations |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Tools: overtime calculator · labor cost calculator · all states
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in New Jersey?
The US DOL (updated November 5, 2026) lists: $15.92 See the full DOL entry on this page for conditions.
Does New Jersey require meal breaks for adults?
New Jersey is not listed in the DOL table of state meal-period requirements (revised January 1, 2023), and federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks (US DOL).
Does New Jersey require paid rest breaks?
No. New Jersey is not in the DOL paid rest-period table, which states that states not listed do not require paid rest periods.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)