TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y.—The New York State Department of Labor has announced that the minimum wage in upstate New York counties will increase to $14.20 on Dec. 31, 2022.
The minimum wage (other than fast food workers) is currently $13.20, so the announced jump represents a seven percent increase for 2023. The minimum wage is scheduled to increase in New York every year until it reaches $15. Fast food worker wages have already risen to $15 per hour statewide.
Tipped service employee wages in upstate New York are also increasing to $11.85 per hour from $11.00 per hour, while tipped food service workers will see their wages increase from $8.80 to $9.45 per hour.
The full overview from the Department of Labor can be seen here. The previous year’s hike had increased the minimum wage 70 cents per hour, from $12.50 to $13.20.
Calling for minimum wage increases has been a common demand in Ithaca and Tompkins County, along with asking that the minimum wage locally be brought up to match the living wage, which has recently been calculated $16.61 per hour in Tompkins County by the Workers Center. There has been very gradual research done on whether or not implementing such a living wage requirement would be feasible at the county level, with rather murky results.