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More than a million people in New York are set to get a huge pay rise - how to check if you could be eligible
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A broad group of advocates, workers, business owners, and public officials in New York City are pushing for a major change to wages, aiming to improve the financial situation of over a million workers by significantly raising the minimum wage.
Home to the financial hub of the United States, the Big Apple already boasts one of the highest minimum wage rates in the country, but the newly proposed figure could see the region offer almost double the living wage of the current highest payers in the District of Columbia.
NYC minimum wage could almost double by 2030
Supporters argue that increasing the current $17 hourly wage, potentially up to $30 by 2030 under a new proposal, would help workers cope with the rising cost of living in the U.S., which has seen earnings stagnate concurrently, creating a stark disparity between money in pockets and living expenses.
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The proposal was introduced on March 10 by twelve City Council members.
It outlines a gradual wage increase to $30 per hour for employees at large companies, with slightly smaller increases for those working at businesses with 500 or fewer employees nationwide.
At a press conference outside City Hall, Council member Sandy Nurse emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “We are one of the most expensive cities on this planet.”
She added, “The wages aren’t adding up. They are too damn low, and the cost of living is too damn high… This is not a dignified life.”
If approved, the plan would raise wages in stages: by 2027, minimum pay would reach $20 for workers at large firms and $19 for those at smaller ones.
It would then increase to $23 and $21.50 in 2028, $26 and $24 in 2029, and finally $30 and $29 in 2030.
After that, wages would be adjusted annually based on inflation.
Tipped workers, who currently earn $11 per hour, would also see increases, with their pay set at no less than two-thirds of the standard minimum wage.
The idea of a $30 minimum wage has gained traction in recent years, aligning with a campaign promise from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has said he wants to see wages reach that level by 2030.
Polling across major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, suggests about 66% of respondents support a gradual increase to $30.
Rising costs drive push for higher pay
Labor leaders have also voiced strong support.
Connor Spence, president of the Amazon Labor Union, said at the same press event, “We have to fix the game, it is rigged against us right now. The gears of this city are moved by working people every single day.”
He added, “We know in our hearts something is wrong… That is why we are demanding $30 for our groceries, $30 for our rent, $30 for our families and our future.”
Even so, some estimates suggest $30 an hour would only just meet the cost of living in New York City.
According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a person needs about $31.50 per hour to cover basic expenses like housing, food, transportation, and healthcare.
Workers themselves describe ongoing financial struggles.
Joëlle Jean, an Amazon employee at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, said she was unable to secure housing after starting her job in 2023 because landlords doubted she could consistently pay rent.
She explained, “Not making enough money, no job security—not good for them.”
She described having to constantly make tough choices between essentials: sometimes deciding whether to pay for her phone or internet, other times choosing between food and utility bills.
“We work hard, 60 hours, just to make ends meet,” she said.
“We still cannot face our responsibilities as hard-working people… We make our employees billions, but they still can’t pay us.”
Similar efforts are underway beyond the city. State Assembly Member Demond Meeks has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage across New York State.
Saru Jayaraman, founder of the One Living Wage campaign, believes the growing support for higher wages reflects broader economic frustrations.
She said many workers feel disconnected from political messaging that doesn’t address their daily struggles: “We’re hearing from workers all over the country that they’re not motivated by a ‘fight to save democracy’ because they say… ‘what has democracy done for me lately?’”
She argued that improving affordability isn’t just about lowering costs, but about increasing incomes: “It’s never going to happen… the only way to actually address people being able to afford things is to put more money in their pockets.”
She concluded that current wage levels are simply insufficient, saying, “there’s no world in which $15, $17, or even $20 is going to be enough… to meet the basic needs of life.”