Wages in the U.S.: real and nominal value of the minimum wage through 2013
The real and nominal value of the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1938 to 2013, expressed in July 2013 U.S. dollars*
by Statista Research Department,
last edited
Jan 8, 2014
This statistic presents the nominal and real value of the statutory minimum wage in the United States from 1938 to 2013, in 2013 U.S. dollars. In 1938, the minimum wage was 0.25 U.S. dollars per hour, the equivalent of 4.06 U.S. dollars in 2013 terms. The real value of the minimum wage peaked in 1968 when minimum wage workers earned 1.60 U.S. dollars per hour, the equivalent of 10.69 U.S. dollars in 2013 terms.
The real and nominal value of the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1938 to 2013, expressed in July 2013 U.S. dollars*
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| Statutory minimum wage (nominal $) | Statutory minimum wage (real $) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2013 | 7.25 | 7.25 |
| July 2009 | 7.25 | 7.89 |
| July 2008 | 6.55 | 6.94 |
| July 2007 | 5.85 | 6.58 |
| Sept. 1997 | 5.15 | 7.45 |
| Oct. 1996 | 4.75 | 7 |
| Apr. 1991 | 4.25 | 7.31 |
| Apr. 1990 | 3.8 | 6.84 |
| Jan. 1981 | 3.35 | 8.77 |
| Jan. 1980 | 3.1 | 9.07 |
| Jan. 1978 | 2.65 | 9.67 |
| Jan. 1976 | 2.3 | 9.41 |
| Jan. 1975 | 2.1 | 9.18 |
| May 1974 | 2 | 9.39 |
| Feb. 1968 | 1.6 | 10.69 |
| Sept. 1963 | 1.25 | 9.27 |
| Sept. 1961 | 1.15 | 8.73 |
| Mar. 1956 | 1 | 8.49 |
| Jan. 1950 | 0.75 | 7.25 |
| Oct. 1945 | 0.4 | 5.04 |
| Oct. 1938 | 0.25 | 4.06 |
| Statutory minimum wage (nominal $) | Statutory minimum wage (real $) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2013 | 7.25 | 7.25 |
| July 2009 | 7.25 | 7.89 |
| July 2008 | 6.55 | 6.94 |
| July 2007 | 5.85 | 6.58 |
| Sept. 1997 | 5.15 | 7.45 |
| Oct. 1996 | 4.75 | 7 |
| Apr. 1991 | 4.25 | 7.31 |
| Apr. 1990 | 3.8 | 6.84 |
| Jan. 1981 | 3.35 | 8.77 |
| Jan. 1980 | 3.1 | 9.07 |
| Jan. 1978 | 2.65 | 9.67 |
| Jan. 1976 | 2.3 | 9.41 |
| Jan. 1975 | 2.1 | 9.18 |
| May 1974 | 2 | 9.39 |
| Feb. 1968 | 1.6 | 10.69 |
| Sept. 1963 | 1.25 | 9.27 |
| Sept. 1961 | 1.15 | 8.73 |
| Mar. 1956 | 1 | 8.49 |
| Jan. 1950 | 0.75 | 7.25 |
| Oct. 1945 | 0.4 | 5.04 |
| Oct. 1938 | 0.25 | 4.06 |
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by Statista Research Department,
last edited
Jan 8, 2014
This statistic presents the nominal and real value of the statutory minimum wage in the United States from 1938 to 2013, in 2013 U.S. dollars. In 1938, the minimum wage was 0.25 U.S. dollars per hour, the equivalent of 4.06 U.S. dollars in 2013 terms. The real value of the minimum wage peaked in 1968 when minimum wage workers earned 1.60 U.S. dollars per hour, the equivalent of 10.69 U.S. dollars in 2013 terms.
- Source
- CRS
- Show further sources information
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- Release date
- January 2014
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1938 to 2013
- Age group
- Supplementary notes
- * Some dates and values were not listed to better reflect the data
Free access to basic statistics
Source
- Source
- CRS
- Show further sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- January 2014
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1938 to 2013
- Age group
- Supplementary notes
- * Some dates and values were not listed to better reflect the data
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