What is the minimum wage for security guards in New York?
Security guards in New York are paid at least the state minimum wage, which stays $17.00 an hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 in the rest of the state on January 1, 202716. The Department of Labor says one of the statute's off-ramp conditions was met, so there is no inflation-based increase that day4.
Among the posts that can carry a higher floor, three are set out here: covered guards in New York City from January 1, 2027, or later under some existing agreements75; covered airport workers at JFK and LaGuardia8; and building service work on public contracts over $1,5009.
This text does not constitute legal advice. Obligations vary by establishment and change over time. Confirm yours with the New York State Department of Labor, New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection or the City Comptroller for work in the city, or a qualified advisor.
Which floor applies where the guard works?
| Where the guard works | Rate | In force since | Next published step |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, state minimum wage | $17.0010 | January 1, 202610 | no change on January 1, 20271 |
| Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, state minimum wage | $17.0011 | January 1, 202611 | no change on January 1, 20271 |
| Rest of the state, state minimum wage | $16.0012 | January 1, 202612 | no change on January 1, 20276 |
| New York City, covered security guard, unarmed, 0 to 36 months or new hire | $18.8713 | January 1, 202713 | $19.6814 |
| New York City, covered security guard, unarmed, all listed requirements | $22.2015 | January 1, 202715 | $23.1516 |
| New York City, covered security guard, armed | $33.703 | January 1, 20273 | $34.6517 |
| JFK and LaGuardia, covered airport worker (Port Authority minimum wage) | $21.258 | January 1, 20268 | $21.992 |
Until the City's guard rates start, a covered guard's post in New York City carries the state minimum wage, unless it is an airport or public contract post71089. Under some existing agreements, the City's guard rates start later5. The guard rates' next step is May 1, 202717, and the airport step January 1, 20272.
Why does New York's minimum wage not rise on January 1, 2027?
From 2027, § 652(1-b) adjusts each rate every year by the change in a three-year average of the Northeast CPI-W, rounded to the nearest five cents18. There is no increase for the following year if any one of three conditions is met: inflation turns negative, the state's unemployment rate rises by half a percentage point or more from its low of the previous twelve months, or state employment falls by the measures the statute sets, for no more than two consecutive years19.
The Department of Labor says that for 2027 the conditions for one of the off-ramps were met, so the minimum wage will not receive an inflation-based increase on January 1, 20274. The commissioner publishes the adjusted rates no later than the first of October of each year20.
The Governor has proposed a change to the law's off-ramp provisions. The Governor's office says it could let the rates rise with inflation from March 1, 2027, if the Legislature approves it2122. It is a proposal, not law, on November 12, 2026.
When the hourly rate rises, the wage orders' other money amounts, among them allowances for meals, lodging and apparel, rise in the same proportion, rounded to the nearest five cents23.
Which guard posts carry a higher floor?
New York City guard posts
From January 1, 2027, covered security guard employers in the city pay at least the rates in the City's schedule: $18.87, $22.20 or $33.70 an hour by title, rising on May 1, 202771315317. For guards under a union agreement, or an agreement on pay or benefits entered into on or before October 30, 2025, with a termination date on a date certain, Local Law 61 applies when that agreement terminates524.
JFK and LaGuardia
Covered airport workers are paid at least the higher of the wage rate the Commissioner of Labor designates from federal Service Contract Act determinations or the Port Authority minimum wage, set at $21.25 through December 31, 20268. The Port Authority's airport minimum wage rises to $21.99 on January 1, 20272. Employers also provide a health and welfare amount, $5.92 an hour for up to 40 hours a week as of August 10, 202625. Employers with ten or fewer employees are exempt26.
Covered airport workers are anyone employed to perform work at JFK, LaGuardia or a location preparing or delivering food for their departing flights; salaried professionals, executives and administrative staff, and Port Authority or other government employees, are not27.
Public building service contracts
On a public contract over $1,500 whose principal purpose is building services, a guard is a building service employee and is paid the prevailing wage in the locality, which can never be less than the state minimum wage92829.
Other wage standards
Local Law 61 does not apply to work under a contract subject to the federal Service Contract Act, or to Article 9 of the Labor Law, the public building service contracts above30. Nor does it apply to work under the City's prevailing wage for guards at city-contracted shelters, the one for building service employees in city leased or financially assisted facilities, the other standards it lists, or work under a Port Authority compensation standard30.
What changes in payroll for guards?
In payroll
What does an employer have to be able to show?
Payroll records for each week worked, kept for not less than six years, show the hours worked, the rate or rates of pay and the wages paid32. In New York City, guard employers also keep records of compliance with Local Law 61 for 6 years33.
What does the law leave open?
Which wage order covers a guard. The Miscellaneous Industries order applies to all employees except those covered by another order34, and the Building Service Industry order covers establishments engaged in renting, servicing, cleaning, maintaining, selling or managing buildings35. Which one covers your guards is a question for your counsel or the Department of Labor.
An unarmed guard who fits neither title. The City's schedule lists an unarmed title that “Includes employees that have completed all the following requirements”, among them 12 months of employment and FDNY certifications, and one for “0 - 36 Months of Employment* or New Hire**”1513. It does not say which rate applies to an unarmed guard past 36 months without the listed certifications. Confirm it with your counsel.
What does the law say exactly?
On January 1, 2027, New York’s minimum wage will stay the same. The minimum wage rates will be: $17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County
Department of Labor why there is no increase in 2027
Under New York Law, minimum wage rates can increase each year based on inflation. However, the law also includes certain conditions—known as “off-ramps”—that can prevent an automatic increase. For 2027, the conditions for one of the off-ramps has been met. As a result, the minimum wage will not receive an inflation-based increase on January 1, 2027.
Labor Law § 652(1-a)(a) New York City
(a) New York city. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, every employer regardless of size shall pay to each of its employees for each hour worked in the city of New York a wage of not less than: $16.00 on and after January 1, 2024, $16.50 on and after January 1, 2025, $17.00 on and after January 1, 2026, or, if greater, such other wage as may be established by federal law pursuant to 29 U.S.C. section 206 or its successors or such other wage as may be established in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Labor Law § 652(1-a)(b) Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester
(b) Remainder of downstate. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, every employer shall pay to each of its employees for each hour worked in the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester, a wage of not less than: $16.00 on and after January 1, 2024, $16.50 on and after January 1, 2025, $17.00 on and after January 1, 2026, or, if greater, such other wage as may be established by federal law pursuant to 29 U.S.C. section 206 or its successors or such other wage as may be established in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Labor Law § 652(1-a)(c) rest of the state
(c) Remainder of state. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, every employer shall pay to each of its employees for each hour worked outside the city of New York and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester, a wage of not less than: $15.00 on and after January 1, 2024, $15.50 on and after January 1, 2025, $16.00 on and after January 1, 2026, or, if greater, such other wage as may be established by federal law pursuant to 29 U.S.C. section 206 or its successors or such other wage as may be established in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Labor Law § 652(1-b)(d) the off-ramp conditions
(d) Exceptions. Effective January first, two thousand twenty-seven and thereafter, notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subdivision, there shall be no increase in the minimum wage in the state for the following year if any of the following conditions are met, provided, however, that such exception shall be limited to no more than two consecutive years: (i) the rate of change in the average of the most recent period of the first of August to the thirty-first of July over the preceding period of the first of August to the thirty-first of July published by the United States department of labor non-seasonally adjusted consumer price index for the northeast region urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W), or any successor index as calculated by the United States department of labor, is negative; (ii) the three-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted New York state unemployment rate as determined by the U-3 measure of labor underutilization for the most recent period ending the thirty-first of July as calculated by the United States department of labor rises by one-half percentage point or more relative to its low during the previous twelve months; or (iii) seasonally adjusted, total non-farm employment for New York state in July, calculated by the United States department of labor, decreased from the seasonally adjusted, total non-farm employment for New York state in April, and seasonally adjusted, total non-farm employment for New York state in July, calculated by the United States department of labor, decreased from the seasonally adjusted, total non-farm employment for New York state in January.
Department of Labor, Healthy Terminals Act the airport floor
The minimum wage for each classification of covered airport worker cannot be less than either of the following: The wage rate designated by the NYS Commissioner of Labor based on determinations of the federal Department of Labor pursuant to the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act. The minimum wage set by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Currently, this wage is set at $21.25 starting January 1, 2026 (through December 31, 2026).
New York City Minimum Wage Schedule armed guards
Security Guard (Armed) Effective Period: January 1, 2027 – April 30, 2027 Minimum Wage Rate: $33.70 per hour Effective Period: May 1, 2027 – June 30, 2027 Minimum Wage Rate: $34.65 per hour
Labor Law § 230(6) prevailing wage and the minimum wage
6. "Prevailing wage" means the wage determined by the fiscal officer to be prevailing for the various classes of building service employees in the locality. In no event shall the basic hourly cash rate of pay be less than the statutory minimum wage established by article nineteen of this chapter, or, in a city with a local law requiring a higher minimum wage on city contract work, less than the minimum wage specified in such local law.
How does a system hold these rules?
New York's rules land on the schedule, the timecard and payroll at the same time. This is how they come together in WorkAxle:
- Daily and weekly hours, consecutive days and rest between shifts are set up as rules, each with its start date.
- While the schedule is built, the platform flags each shift that breaks one of those rules and names the rule. The supervisor decides.
- Each clock-in and clock-out is recorded with its time, and at the close of the period hours come out classified by your rules, ready for your payroll system.
The supervisor keeps the last word.
What can you check this week?
- Tag each post with its region: New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, or the rest of the state101112.
- Mark the posts in New York City, at JFK or LaGuardia, and on public building service contracts, which carry their own floors789.
- If your payroll was set up for a state increase on January 1, 2027, check it against the Department's statement that there is none4.
- For airport posts, set the Port Authority's $21.99 from January 1, 2027 against each worker's rate2.
Sending it to payroll or your counsel? The printed brief carries the rates, the dates and the sources.
This text does not constitute legal advice. Obligations vary by establishment and change over time. Confirm yours with the New York State Department of Labor, New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection or the City Comptroller for work in the city, or a qualified advisor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage for security guards in New York on January 1, 2027?
At least the state minimum wage: $17.00 an hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 in the rest of the state, the same as in 20261612. Some posts carry a higher floor.
Is the New York minimum wage going up on January 1, 2027?
No. The Department of Labor says one of the statute's off-ramp conditions was met, so there is no inflation-based increase on January 1, 20274. The Governor has proposed a change that could let the rates rise with inflation from March 1, 2027, if the Legislature approves it21.
What is the minimum wage for security guards in NYC?
From January 1, 2027, covered guards are paid at least $18.87, $22.20 or $33.70 an hour by title, under the City's schedule13153. For guards under a union agreement, or an agreement on pay or benefits entered into on or before October 30, 2025, with a termination date on a date certain, Local Law 61 applies from the date that agreement terminates524. Until the City's rates apply, a covered guard's post in the city carries the state minimum wage of $17.00, unless it is an airport post or a post on a public building service contract, which has its own floor108928.
https://www.workaxle.com/compliance-center/united-states/new-york/security-guard-minimum-wage