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*

CharacteristicStatutory 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
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2July 2013 U.S. dollarsStatutory minimum wage (nominal $)Statutory minimum wage (real $)Oct. 1938Oct. 1945Jan. 1950Mar. 1956Sept. 1961Sept. 1963Feb. 1968May 1974Jan. 1975Jan. 1976Jan. 1978Jan. 1980Jan. 1981Apr. 1990Apr. 1991Oct. 1996Sept. 1997July 2007July 2008July 2009Nov. 2013
02.557.51012.5
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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

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Statistics on " Minimum wage in the United States "

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