Westchester County is part of the NY downstate region with a minimum wage of $16.50 per hour as of 2025, indexed to inflation under NY Labor Law Section 651. Local governments cannot set their own minimum wage thanks to state preemption.
NY Labor Law Section 651 sets the minimum wage statewide and groups Westchester with NYC and Long Island in the downstate tier. The 2024 budget raised that tier to $16 in 2025 and $16.50 in 2026, with annual indexing tied to CPI thereafter. Tipped service worker minimums and fast-food rates differ slightly. Cities and counties are preempted from setting a higher minimum wage. The NY Department of Labor enforces wage payments, with the Westchester County Human Rights Commission accepting related discrimination complaints under county and state law.
Underpayment exposes employers to back wages, 100 percent liquidated damages, civil penalties, and personal liability for owners under NY Labor Law Article 6.
See how New Rochelle's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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