Federal Minimum Wage: United States
Current Value (2025)
$7.25/hr
All-Time Peak (2010)
$7.25/hr
All-Time Low (1939)
$0.26/hr
Federal Minimum Wage — United States
Analysis# Federal Minimum Wage Analysis (1939–2025)
The federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25/hour for 15 years (2010–2025), representing a historic plateau despite cumulative inflation of approximately 45% during this period, which has effectively eroded purchasing power by nearly one-third. While the nominal minimum wage increased from $0.26/hour (1939) to its peak of $7.25 (2010)—a 27-fold increase—this 71-year growth trajectory masks significant periods of legislative inaction: the wage remained frozen at $5.15/hour for a decade (1997–2007) before the last
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2024 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2023 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2022 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2021 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2020 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2019 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2018 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2017 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2016 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2015 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2014 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2013 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2012 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2011 | $7.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 2010 | $7.25/hr | +5.07% |
| 2009 | $6.90/hr | +11.29% |
| 2008 | $6.20/hr | +12.73% |
| 2007 | $5.50/hr | +6.80% |
| 2006 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
Show all 87 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 2004 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 2003 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 2002 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 2001 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 2000 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 1999 | $5.15/hr | +0.00% |
| 1998 | $5.15/hr | +5.53% |
| 1997 | $4.88/hr | +11.42% |
| 1996 | $4.38/hr | +3.06% |
| 1995 | $4.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 1994 | $4.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 1993 | $4.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 1992 | $4.25/hr | +2.66% |
| 1991 | $4.14/hr | +12.20% |
| 1990 | $3.69/hr | +10.15% |
| 1989 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1988 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1987 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1986 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1985 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1984 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1983 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1982 | $3.35/hr | +0.00% |
| 1981 | $3.35/hr | +8.06% |
| 1980 | $3.10/hr | +6.90% |
| 1979 | $2.90/hr | +9.43% |
| 1978 | $2.65/hr | +15.22% |
| 1977 | $2.30/hr | +0.00% |
| 1976 | $2.30/hr | +9.52% |
| 1975 | $2.10/hr | +12.30% |
| 1974 | $1.87/hr | +16.88% |
| 1973 | $1.60/hr | +0.00% |
| 1972 | $1.60/hr | +0.00% |
| 1971 | $1.60/hr | +0.00% |
| 1970 | $1.60/hr | +0.00% |
| 1969 | $1.60/hr | +1.27% |
| 1968 | $1.58/hr | +13.67% |
| 1967 | $1.39/hr | +11.20% |
| 1966 | $1.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 1965 | $1.25/hr | +0.00% |
| 1964 | $1.25/hr | +5.93% |
| 1963 | $1.18/hr | +2.61% |
| 1962 | $1.15/hr | +9.52% |
| 1961 | $1.05/hr | +5.00% |
| 1960 | $1.00/hr | +0.00% |
| 1959 | $1.00/hr | +0.00% |
| 1958 | $1.00/hr | +0.00% |
| 1957 | $1.00/hr | +4.17% |
| 1956 | $0.96/hr | +28.00% |
| 1955 | $0.75/hr | +0.00% |
| 1954 | $0.75/hr | +0.00% |
| 1953 | $0.75/hr | +0.00% |
| 1952 | $0.75/hr | +0.00% |
| 1951 | $0.75/hr | +0.00% |
| 1950 | $0.75/hr | +87.50% |
| 1949 | $0.40/hr | +0.00% |
| 1948 | $0.40/hr | +0.00% |
| 1947 | $0.40/hr | +0.00% |
| 1946 | $0.40/hr | +21.21% |
| 1945 | $0.33/hr | +10.00% |
| 1944 | $0.30/hr | +0.00% |
| 1943 | $0.30/hr | +0.00% |
| 1942 | $0.30/hr | +0.00% |
| 1941 | $0.30/hr | +0.00% |
| 1940 | $0.30/hr | +15.38% |
| 1939 | $0.26/hr | — |