ALBANY – New York State will raise its overtime salary thresholds for certain salaried employees, a change that will affect businesses and workers across the state, starting on January 1, 2026. The updated limits determine which executive and administrative employees can be classified as exempt from overtime pay.
Under the new rules, employees working in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), and Westchester County must earn at least $1,275 per week, or $66,300 annually, to be exempt from overtime. For the remainder of the state, including the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions, the threshold will rise to $1,199.10 per week, or $62,353.20 annually.
The increases continue New York’s tiered system, which sets different salary levels depending on region. Employees who earn below these thresholds are generally entitled to overtime pay at one and a half times their regular rate for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek, regardless of their job title or duties. The annual adjustments are set by the State Department of Labor and are designed to ensure that more salaried workers receive overtime protections as wages and living costs change.
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