U.S. minimum wage if it grew with productivity 1968-2021

Published by

Apr 3, 2025

In 2021, the minimum wage in the United States would be 22.88 U.S. dollars an hour if it grew with productivity. However, the current federal minimum wage in the United States 7.25 U.S. dollars an hour and has remained unchanged since 2009.

Value of the minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. dollars)

Characteristic	Minimum wage on pace with productivity	Real minimum wage
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Release date

August 2021

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

1977 to 2021

Supplementary notes

The 'real' minimum wage refers to the value of that wage in 2021 U.S. dollars. The federal minimum wage has been 7.25 since 2009, but due to inflation, the real value of that wage has changed overtime.

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