US federal minimum wage history
The federal minimum wage since 1938, and what it's worth in today's dollars.
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What the data shows
- Federal minimum wage: $0.40 in 1947, $7.25 in 2025 (18× higher). It peaked at $7.25 in 2009.
- In 2025 dollars: $5.77 in 1947, $7.25 in 2025. It peaked at $14.81 in 1968.
About this chart
The federal minimum wage started at 25 cents an hour in 1938. It has been $7.25 since July 2009, the longest stretch without a raise in its history.
Adjusted for inflation, its buying power peaked in the late 1960s. Many states and cities set higher minimums of their own.
The data
Source: FRED (FEDMINNFRWG, US Department of Labor), federal minimum hourly wage; inflation-adjusted with US CPI-U to 2025 dollars. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
| Date | Federal minimum wage | In 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | $0.40 | $5.77 |
| 1948 | $0.40 | $5.36 |
| 1949 | $0.40 | $5.41 |
| 1950 | $0.75 | $10.04 |
| 1951 | $0.75 | $9.30 |
| 1952 | $0.75 | $9.09 |
| 1953 | $0.75 | $9.02 |
| 1954 | $0.75 | $8.99 |
| 1955 | $0.75 | $9.01 |
| 1956 | $1.00 | $11.84 |
| 1957 | $1.00 | $11.45 |
| 1958 | $1.00 | $11.15 |
| 1959 | $1.00 | $11.05 |
| 1960 | $1.00 | $10.88 |
| 1961 | $1.15 | $12.38 |
| 1962 | $1.15 | $12.24 |
| 1963 | $1.25 | $13.14 |
| 1964 | $1.25 | $12.97 |
| 1965 | $1.25 | $12.76 |
| 1966 | $1.25 | $12.39 |
| 1967 | $1.40 | $13.51 |
| 1968 | $1.60 | $14.81 |
| 1969 | $1.60 | $14.04 |
| 1970 | $1.60 | $13.26 |
| 1971 | $1.60 | $12.72 |
| 1972 | $1.60 | $12.32 |
| 1973 | $1.60 | $11.60 |
| 1974 | $2.00 | $13.06 |
| 1975 | $2.10 | $12.56 |
| 1976 | $2.30 | $13.01 |
| 1977 | $2.30 | $12.22 |
| 1978 | $2.65 | $13.08 |
| 1979 | $2.90 | $12.86 |
| 1980 | $3.10 | $12.12 |
| 1981 | $3.35 | $11.86 |
| 1982 | $3.35 | $11.17 |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $10.83 |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $10.38 |
| 1985 | $3.35 | $10.02 |
| 1986 | $3.35 | $9.83 |
| 1987 | $3.35 | $9.49 |
| 1988 | $3.35 | $9.12 |
| 1989 | $3.35 | $8.70 |
| 1990 | $3.80 | $9.36 |
| 1991 | $4.25 | $10.05 |
| 1992 | $4.25 | $9.75 |
| 1993 | $4.25 | $9.47 |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $9.23 |
| 1995 | $4.25 | $8.98 |
| 1996 | $4.75 | $9.75 |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $10.33 |
| 1998 | $5.15 | $10.17 |
| 1999 | $5.15 | $9.95 |
| 2000 | $5.15 | $9.63 |
| 2001 | $5.15 | $9.37 |
| 2002 | $5.15 | $9.22 |
| 2003 | $5.15 | $9.01 |
| 2004 | $5.15 | $8.78 |
| 2005 | $5.15 | $8.49 |
| 2006 | $5.15 | $8.23 |
| 2007 | $5.85 | $9.08 |
| 2008 | $6.55 | $9.80 |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $10.88 |
| 2010 | $7.25 | $10.70 |
| 2011 | $7.25 | $10.38 |
| 2012 | $7.25 | $10.17 |
| 2013 | $7.25 | $10.02 |
| 2014 | $7.25 | $9.86 |
| 2015 | $7.25 | $9.85 |
| 2016 | $7.25 | $9.73 |
| 2017 | $7.25 | $9.52 |
| 2018 | $7.25 | $9.30 |
| 2019 | $7.25 | $9.13 |
| 2020 | $7.25 | $9.02 |
| 2021 | $7.25 | $8.61 |
| 2022 | $7.25 | $7.98 |
| 2023 | $7.25 | $7.66 |
| 2024 | $7.25 | $7.44 |
| 2025 | $7.25 | $7.25 |
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Frequently asked questions
When was the federal minimum wage last raised?
July 24, 2009, when it went to $7.25 an hour. Many states and cities have set higher minimum wages since, but the federal floor hasn't changed.
Where does this data come from?
FRED (FEDMINNFRWG, US Department of Labor), federal minimum hourly wage; inflation-adjusted with US CPI-U to 2025 dollars. Retrieved November 3, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.
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