the last time the federal minimum wage increased was in july 2009.
the last time the federal minimum wage increased was in july 2009.
when was the last time the federal minimum wage increased?
july 2009
in the united states workers generally must be paid no less than the statutory minimum wage. as of july 2009, the federal government mandates a nationwide minimum wage level of $7.25 per hour, while some states and municipalities have set minimum wage levels higher than the federal level, with the highest state minimum wage being $9.47 per hour in washington as of january 1, 2015. among those paid by the hour in 2013, 1.5 million were reported as earning exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage. about 1.8 million were reported as earning wages below the minimum. together, these 3.3 million workers with wages at or below the minimum represent, respectively: 1.0% of the population, 1.6% of the labor force, 2.5% of all workers, and 4.3% of hourly workers. many states already have a state minimum wage higher than the existing federal minimum wage.
minimum wage fairness act
the federal minimum wage was introduced in 1938 at the rate of $0.25 per hour (). by 1950 the minimum wage had risen to $0.75 per hour. the minimum wage had its highest purchasing power in 1968, when it was $1.60 per hour (). the real value of the federal minimum wage in 2016 dollars has decreased by one-third since 1968. the minimum wage would be $11 in 2016 if its real value had remained at the 1968 level. from january 1981 to april 1990, the minimum wage was frozen at $3.35 per hour, then a record-setting minimum wage freeze. from september 1, 1997 through july 23, 2007, the federal minimum wage remained constant at $5.15 per hour, breaking the old record. in 2009 the minimum wage was adjusted to $7.25 where it has remained fixed for the past nine years.
minimum wage in the united states