Building big tax-break apartments pays at least $42.03 an hour in wages and benefits

If you do construction work on an eligible NYC housing site with 100 or more apartments, your wages and supplemental benefits must total at least $42.03 an hour as of July 1, 2026. Up to half can be benefits instead of cash. The $40 floor set in 2024 rises 2.5% each July. Certain sites with 150 or more units have higher rates tied to prevailing wage schedules.

The city rules explain how the NYC Comptroller enforces this. You can file a complaint online or call the Bureau of Labor Law at (212) 669-4443. The office will not reveal your identity unless needed for a settlement or hearing and you consent. Retaliation can count as interference with an investigation. A worker found to have been underpaid can receive back wages and interest; an owner, applicant, or employer can also face a civil penalty of up to 25% of the underpayment and interest. Three uncured violations in five years can trigger termination or recapture of the tax break.

New York State set the wage floor in 2024. The Comptroller’s office drafted the enforcement regulations under Brad Lander and published the proposal in December 2025. After public comments, the office adopted the final rule under Mark Levine on June 30, 2026; it took effect July 30. Trade unions supported the rule; other commenters warned about financial and logistical burdens on developers and contractors. The city rule enforces the state’s pay requirement; it did not create the underlying tax break or wage floor.