Household Income, Wages & Living Standards · U.S. Department of Labor / BLS
U.S. Federal Minimum Wage History (Nominal vs. Real 1938-2025)
Established at $0.25 per hour in 1938 and last raised by Congress to $7.25 per hour in July 2009, the federal minimum wage reached its highest real purchasing power in 1968. In 2025, federal minimum wage recorded 7.25USD / Hour, compared with 7.25 in 2024. Across the 88-year archive (1938-2025), readings have ranged between 0.25 (1938) and 7.25 (2009).
Series Summary Ledger
- 2025 Reading7.25
- 2024 Reading7.25
- All-Time High (2009)7.25
- All-Time Low (1938)0.25
- Reporting UnitUSD / Hour
- Series CodeFEDMINNFRWG
U.S. Department of Labor / BLS · 1938-2025
U.S. Federal Minimum Wage History (Nominal vs. Real 1938-2025)
2025 Reading: 7.25 USD / Hour
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DECADE BENCHMARKS (1950s-2020s)
Federal Minimum Wage by Decade
| Decade | Mean | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.85 | 0.75 | 1.00 |
| 1960s | 1.29 | 1.00 | 1.60 |
| 1970s | 2.06 | 1.60 | 2.90 |
| 1980s | 3.33 | 3.10 | 3.35 |
| 1990s | 4.53 | 3.80 | 5.15 |
| 2000s | 5.57 | 5.15 | 7.25 |
| 2010s | 7.25 | 7.25 | 7.25 |
| 2020s | 7.25 | 7.25 | 7.25 |
Federal Minimum Wage Year-by-Year Historical Table (1938-2025)
Source: U.S. Department of Labor / BLS (FEDMINNFRWG)| Year | Federal Minimum Wage (USD / Hour) | Annual Change | Inflation-Adjusted Minimum Wage (2025 USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 7.25 |
| 2024 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 7.44 |
| 2023 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 7.66 |
| 2022 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 7.98 |
| 2021 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 8.61 |
| 2020 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.02 |
| 2019 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.13 |
| 2018 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.30 |
| 2017 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.52 |
| 2016 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.73 |
| 2015 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.85 |
| 2014 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 9.86 |
| 2013 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 10.02 |
| 2012 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 10.17 |
| 2011 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 10.38 |
| 2010 | 7.25 | 0.00 | 10.70 |
| 2009 | 7.25 | +0.70 | 10.88 |
| 2008 | 6.55 | +0.70 | 9.79 |
| 2007 | 5.85 | +0.70 | 9.08 |
| 2006 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 8.22 |
| 2005 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 8.49 |
| 2004 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 8.78 |
| 2003 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 9.01 |
| 2002 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 9.22 |
| 2001 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 9.36 |
| 2000 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 9.63 |
| 1999 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 9.95 |
| 1998 | 5.15 | 0.00 | 10.17 |
| 1997 | 5.15 | +0.40 | 10.33 |
| 1996 | 4.75 | +0.50 | 9.75 |
| 1995 | 4.25 | 0.00 | 8.98 |
| 1994 | 4.25 | 0.00 | 9.23 |
| 1993 | 4.25 | 0.00 | 9.47 |
| 1992 | 4.25 | 0.00 | 9.75 |
| 1991 | 4.25 | +0.45 | 10.05 |
| 1990 | 3.80 | +0.45 | 9.36 |
| 1989 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 8.70 |
| 1988 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 9.12 |
| 1987 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 9.49 |
| 1986 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 9.84 |
| 1985 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 10.03 |
| 1984 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 10.38 |
| 1983 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 10.83 |
| 1982 | 3.35 | 0.00 | 11.18 |
| 1981 | 3.35 | +0.25 | 11.86 |
| 1980 | 3.10 | +0.20 | 12.11 |
| 1979 | 2.90 | +0.25 | 12.86 |
| 1978 | 2.65 | +0.35 | 13.08 |
| 1977 | 2.30 | 0.00 | 12.22 |
| 1976 | 2.30 | +0.20 | 13.01 |
| 1975 | 2.10 | +0.10 | 12.56 |
| 1974 | 2.00 | +0.40 | 13.06 |
| 1973 | 1.60 | 0.00 | 11.60 |
| 1972 | 1.60 | 0.00 | 12.32 |
| 1971 | 1.60 | 0.00 | 12.72 |
| 1970 | 1.60 | 0.00 | 13.27 |
| 1969 | 1.60 | 0.00 | 14.04 |
| 1968 | 1.60 | +0.20 | 14.81 |
| 1967 | 1.40 | +0.15 | 13.51 |
| 1966 | 1.25 | 0.00 | 12.40 |
| 1965 | 1.25 | 0.00 | 12.77 |
| 1964 | 1.25 | 0.00 | 12.97 |
| 1963 | 1.25 | +0.10 | 13.14 |
| 1962 | 1.15 | 0.00 | 12.24 |
| 1961 | 1.15 | +0.15 | 12.39 |
| 1960 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 10.89 |
| 1959 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 11.04 |
| 1958 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 11.16 |
| 1957 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 11.46 |
| 1956 | 1.00 | +0.25 | 11.84 |
| 1955 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 9.02 |
| 1954 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 8.99 |
| 1953 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 9.02 |
| 1952 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 9.09 |
| 1951 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 9.30 |
| 1950 | 0.75 | +0.35 | 10.03 |
| 1949 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 5.41 |
| 1948 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 5.36 |
| 1947 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 5.77 |
| 1946 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 6.60 |
| 1945 | 0.40 | +0.10 | 7.16 |
| 1944 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 5.49 |
| 1943 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 5.58 |
| 1942 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 5.91 |
| 1941 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 6.56 |
| 1940 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 6.89 |
| 1939 | 0.30 | +0.05 | 6.94 |
| 1938 | 0.25 | - | 5.71 |