New York's minimum wage will increase to $8 dollars an hour at the end of this year, 75 cents higher than the federal minimum and the old state rate.
It's the first of three incremental boosts approved by the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo when they approved the state budget last March.
The minimum for most workers will increase to $8.75 an hour a year later and to $9 an hour a year after that.
However, the minimums for workers in the restaurant and hospitality industry who get tips may remain $5 an hour, with employers able to raise the maximum tip credits to $3 an hour the first year, $3.75 the second and $4 after that for service workers whose combined tips and wages meet or exceed the new higher minimums.
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