Federal minimum wage by year
The federal minimum wage began at 25 cents an hour in 1938 and has been $7.25 since July 2009. Adjusted for inflation, it was worth the most in 1968 (about $15.50 in today's dollars). Many states and cities set higher minimums.
| Year (year-end) | Federal minimum wage | In today's dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25 | $7.35 |
| 2025 | $7.25 | $7.59 |
| 2024 | $7.25 | $7.79 |
| 2023 | $7.25 | $8.02 |
| 2022 | $7.25 | $8.35 |
| 2021 | $7.25 | $9.02 |
| 2020 | $7.25 | $9.44 |
| 2019 | $7.25 | $9.56 |
| 2018 | $7.25 | $9.73 |
| 2017 | $7.25 | $9.97 |
| 2016 | $7.25 | $10.18 |
| 2015 | $7.25 | $10.31 |
| 2014 | $7.25 | $10.32 |
| 2013 | $7.25 | $10.49 |
| 2012 | $7.25 | $10.64 |
| 2011 | $7.25 | $10.86 |
| 2010 | $7.25 | $11.20 |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $11.39 |
| 2008 | $6.55 | $10.25 |
| 2007 | $5.85 | $9.51 |
| 2006 | $5.15 | $8.61 |
| 2005 | $5.15 | $8.89 |
| 2004 | $5.15 | $9.19 |
| 2003 | $5.15 | $9.43 |
| 2002 | $5.15 | $9.65 |
| 2001 | $5.15 | $9.80 |
| 2000 | $5.15 | $10.08 |
| 1999 | $5.15 | $10.42 |
| 1998 | $5.15 | $10.65 |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $10.81 |
| 1996 | $4.75 | $10.20 |
| 1995 | $4.25 | $9.40 |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $9.66 |
| 1993 | $4.25 | $9.91 |
| 1992 | $4.25 | $10.21 |
| 1991 | $4.25 | $10.51 |
| 1990 | $3.80 | $9.80 |
| 1989 | $3.35 | $9.11 |
| 1988 | $3.35 | $9.54 |
| 1987 | $3.35 | $9.93 |
| 1986 | $3.35 | $10.30 |
| 1985 | $3.35 | $10.49 |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $10.87 |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $11.33 |
| 1982 | $3.35 | $11.70 |
| 1981 | $3.35 | $12.41 |
| 1980 | $3.10 | $12.67 |
| 1979 | $2.90 | $13.46 |
| 1978 | $2.65 | $13.69 |
| 1977 | $2.30 | $12.79 |
| 1976 | $2.30 | $13.62 |
| 1975 | $2.10 | $13.15 |
| 1974 | $2.00 | $13.67 |
| 1973 | $1.60 | $12.14 |
| 1972 | $1.60 | $12.89 |
| 1971 | $1.60 | $13.31 |
| 1970 | $1.60 | $13.89 |
| 1969 | $1.60 | $14.70 |
| 1968 | $1.60 | $15.50 |
| 1967 | $1.40 | $14.14 |
| 1966 | $1.25 | $12.98 |
| 1965 | $1.25 | $13.37 |
| 1964 | $1.25 | $13.58 |
| 1963 | $1.25 | $13.75 |
| 1962 | $1.15 | $12.81 |
| 1961 | $1.15 | $12.96 |
| 1960 | $1.00 | $11.39 |
| 1959 | $1.00 | $11.56 |
| 1958 | $1.00 | $11.68 |
| 1957 | $1.00 | $11.99 |
| 1956 | $1.00 | $12.40 |
| 1955 | $0.75 | $9.44 |
| 1954 | $0.75 | $9.41 |
| 1953 | $0.75 | $9.44 |
| 1952 | $0.75 | $9.52 |
| 1951 | $0.75 | $9.74 |
| 1950 | $0.75 | $10.50 |
| 1949 | $0.40 | $5.66 |
| 1948 | $0.40 | $5.61 |
| 1947 | $0.40 | $6.04 |
| 1946 | $0.40 | $6.91 |
| 1945 | $0.40 | $7.49 |
| 1944 | $0.30 | $5.75 |
| 1943 | $0.30 | $5.84 |
| 1942 | $0.30 | $6.19 |
| 1941 | $0.30 | $6.86 |
| 1940 | $0.30 | $7.22 |
| 1939 | $0.30 | $7.27 |
| 1938 | $0.25 | $5.98 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor via FRED (nonfarm workers). Adjusted with CPI-U, 2026-09.