“In 2026, New Jersey saw its minimum wage increase to $15.92 per hour — up $0.43 — for most employees. Delaware’s minimum wage was increased to $15 at the start of 2025.
The governor says the proposed minimum wage hike — which would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027 — would add about $80 million in annual revenue. Shapiro claimed that the increase would also save the state $300 million per year on entitlement programs like Medicaid.
“We can put more money in their pockets so they don’t need Medicaid anymore,” he said.”