When adjusted for inflation, the 2024 federal minimum wage in the United States is over 40 percent lower than the minimum wage in 1970. Although the real dollar minimum wage in 1970 was only 1.60 U.S. dollars, when expressed in nominal 2024 dollars this increases to 13.05 U.S. dollars. This is a significant difference from the federal minimum wage in 2024 of 7.25 U.S. dollars.

In March 2025, inflation amounted to 2.4 percent, while wages grew by 4.3 percent. The inflation rate has not exceeded the rate of wage growth since January 2023. Inflation in 2022 The high rates of inflation in 2022 meant that the real terms value of American wages took a hit. Many Americans report feelings of concern over the economy and a worsening of their financial situation. The inflation situation in the United States is one that was experienced globally in 2022, mainly due to COVID-19 related supply chain constraints and disruption due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The monthly inflation rate for the U.S. reached a 40-year high in June 2022 at 9.1 percent, and annual inflation for 2022 reached eight percent. Without appropriate wage increases, Americans will continue to see a decline in their purchasing power. Wages in the U.S. Despite the level of wage growth reaching 6.7 percent in the summer of 2022, it has not been enough to curb the impact of even higher inflation rates. The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States has not increased since 2009, meaning that individuals working minimum wage jobs have taken a real terms pay cut for the last twelve years. There are discrepancies between states - the minimum wage in California can be as high as 15.50 U.S. dollars per hour, while a business in Oklahoma may be as low as two U.S. dollars per hour. However, even the higher wage rates in states like California and Washington may be lacking - one analysis found that if minimum wage had kept up with productivity, the minimum hourly wage in the U.S. should have been 22.88 dollars per hour in 2021. Additionally, the impact of decreased purchasing power due to inflation will impact different parts of society in different ways with stark contrast in average wages due to both gender and race.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Minimum Hourly Wage for Nonfarm Workers for the United States (FEDMINNFRWG) from Oct 1938 to May 2025 about per hour, minimum wage, nonfarm, workers, hours, federal, wages, and USA.

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

This feature layer consists of the contiguous United States and District of Columbia, with Alaska and Hawaii. It comprises state minimum wage data for 2018, as well as historical data since 1968, and future data where available. The data was compiled from the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center, with living wage data from MIT's Living Wage Calculator. This layer uses the composite geographies layout to position Alaska and Hawaii adjacent to the contiguous United States.Attributes:

Field Name Unit Description

PeakMW Nominal dollar value Highest minimum wage value planned to be reached in future years (2019-2022)

PeakYR Year The year that the highest minimum wage value is planned to be reached (2019-2022)

DiffPeak2018 Nominal dollar value (difference) The difference between the peak minimum wage and the 2018 minimum wage (PeakMW - DiffPeak2018)

MW2018 Nominal dollar value 2018 state minimum wage

Increase2017 Nominal dollar value (difference) The difference between the 2018 minimum wage and the 2017 minimum wage (MW2018 - MW2017)

Increase2000 2017 dollar value (difference) The difference between the 2018 minimum wage and the 2000 minimum wage (MW2018-MW2000)

Effective2018 Nominal dollar value The minimum wage effective in 2018. For states with minimum wages below the federal minimum wage of $7.25, or for states that have no minimum wage requirement, the federal minimum wage applies.

LV2016 Nominal dollar value 2016 living wage for a single adult at the state level

DiffMWLV Nominal dollar value (difference) The difference between the 2018 minimum wage and the 2016 living wage

CurrentMW Category The type of minimum wage policy in place at the state level

PoliciesMW Text When a state has an indexed minimum wage, the type of policy is described here

Update2018 Category Yes = the state implemented an update to its minimum wage in 2018; No = no policy update in 2018

MW2017 Nominal dollar value 2017 minimum wage

MW2016 2017 dollar value 2016 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2015 2017 dollar value 2015 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2014 2017 dollar value 2014 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2013 2017 dollar value 2013 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2012 2017 dollar value 2012 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2011 2017 dollar value 2011 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2010 2017 dollar value 2010 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2009 2017 dollar value 2009 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2008 2017 dollar value 2008 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2007 2017 dollar value 2007 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2006 2017 dollar value 2006 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2005 2017 dollar value 2005 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2004 2017 dollar value 2004 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2003 2017 dollar value 2003 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2002 2017 dollar value 2002 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2001 2017 dollar value 2001 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW2000 2017 dollar value 2000 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1998 2017 dollar value 1998 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1997 2017 dollar value 1997 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1996 2017 dollar value 1996 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1994 2017 dollar value 1994 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1992 2017 dollar value 1992 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1991 2017 dollar value 1991 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1988 2017 dollar value 1988 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1981 2017 dollar value 1981 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1980 2017 dollar value 1980 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1979 2017 dollar value 1979 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1976 2017 dollar value 1976 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1972 2017 dollar value 1972 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1970 2017 dollar value 1970 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

MW1968 2017 dollar value 1968 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars

The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States is 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, although the minimum wage varies from state to state. As of January 1, 2025, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at 17.5 U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by Washington, which had 16.66 U.S. dollars per hour as the state minimum wage. Minimum wage workers Minimum wage jobs are traditionally seen as “starter jobs” in the U.S., or first jobs for teenagers and young adults, and the number of people working minimum wage jobs has decreased from almost four million in 1979 to about 247,000 in 2020. However, the number of workers earning less than minimum wage in 2020 was significantly higher, at about 865,000. Minimum wage jobs Minimum wage jobs are primarily found in food preparation and serving occupations, as well as sales jobs (primarily in retail). Because the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, nor has it been increased since 2009, it is becoming harder and harder live off of a minimum wage wage job, and for those workers to afford essential things like rent.

Wages in the United States increased 4.72 percent in May of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Wages and Salaries Growth - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This statistic presents the results of a phone survey conducted by Gallup among American adults who were 18 years and older in November 2013. Survey respondents were asked how they would vote on a law that would raise the federal minimum wage in the United States from 7.25 U.S. dollars an hour to 9 U.S. dollars an hour with automatic increased tied to inflation. Some 69 percent of respondents said they would vote for such a proposal.

The minimum wage is a basic labour standard that sets the lowest wage rate that an employer can pay to employees who are covered by the legislation. Today, one of its main purposes is to protect non-unionized workers in unskilled jobs, although it can also influence, directly or indirectly, the level of compensation of other employees as well. A minimum wage constitutes a floor above which employees or their unions may negotiate with management for higher remuneration. However, it is rarely static: adjustments are required from time to time to maintain its relevance in changing economic and social conditions.

The minimum wage per day guaranteed by law in Mexico was decreed to increase by approximately 12 percent between 2024 and 2025, reaching 278.8 Mexican pesos in 2025. The Northern Free Zone located near the northern border was the exception, where the minimum daily wage increased to 419.88 Mexican pesos. Education and income disparity The income distribution is entirely a new story than minimum wages, in fact, there are many factors that influence the level of salaries for Mexican workers. One of the main differences is by the number of schooling years, someone with more than 18 years of study earns on average double than employees with seven to nine years. Moreover, the area of study, while statistics and finance mean salaries, the highest wages by degree, are above 30,000 Mexican pesos per month, others such as performing arts and theology rank as the lowest paying degrees in Mexico.
Poverty still among the main problems
Despite one of the main reasons for minimum wage increases being moving people out from poverty conditions, poverty continues to be one of the main problems Mexican society faces. The number of people living under poverty conditions has decreased by 8.54 million inhabitants from 2014 to 2022, nonetheless, the figure is still higher than 46.5 million. The poverty rate varies among states, with Chiapas leading the ranking with 67.4 percent of the population under such conditions, while both Baja California and Baja California Sur recorded less than 14 percent.

In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a worker's wage in the United States was 19.24 U.S. dollars, a decrease from the previous year. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. In 1979, the median hourly earnings in the U.S. was 17.48 dollars.

From April 2025 onwards, the UK's main national minimum wage category, the national living wage, will rise to ***** pounds per hour, up from ***** pounds per hour in the previous financial year. This amount will apply to workers aged 21 and over, compared with 2022 and 2023 when it was only for workers aged 23 and over, and for those aged 25 and over between 2016 and 2021. The main minimum wage from 2010 to 2015 was the 21+ rate, and 22+ rate between 1999 and 2009. Evolution of the minimum wage Since its introduction in 1999, the minimum wage has had various rate categories, usually based on age. For the first five years, there were two categories, one for workers 18 to 21, and another for workers aged 22 and over. In 2004, a minimum wage for under 18s was introduced, and between 2010 and 2015 there were three rates based on age, and one for apprenticeships. Another age based-rate was added in 2016, but from 2024 onwards, the model will revert to four rate categories overall. In addition to the legal minimum wage, there is also a voluntary real living wage, which for 2024/25 is **** pounds per hour, rising to ***** pounds per hour for workers in London. Wages continue to outpace inflation in 2024 Since July 2023, wages have grown faster than inflation in the UK with December 2024 seeing regular weekly earnings grow by *** percent, compared with the CPI inflation rate of *** percent that month. For almost two years between November 2021 and June 2023, wage growth struggled to keep up with inflation, with the biggest gap occurring in October 2022 when inflation peaked at **** percent. The fall in real earnings in one of the most important factors in the UK's ongoing cost of living crisis. At the height of the crisis, around ** percent of UK households were reporting a monthly increase in their cost of living, with this falling to ** percent by March 2024.

The Christmas Price Index has not been immune to the impacts of inflation in 2023, with the cost of five gold rings increasing by 13.9 percent, and two turtle doves by 25 percent.

A festive basket of goods Traditionally, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the United States measures the rate of inflation on a basket of goods as a way to document the general inflationary experience of all urban consumers. The Christmas Price Index has been used for decades to humorously measure the changing cost of a particular set of goods over time – in this case the items described in the popular holiday tune, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Overall inflation for the Christmas Price Index amounts to 2.7 percent.

Eight maids need a raise For the twelfth year in a row, the price of eight maids-a-milking has remained constant at 58 U.S. dollars. This is due to the fact that the federal minimum wage in the United States has been 7.25 U.S. dollars since 2009. The source categorizes maids-a-milking as unskilled laborers – meaning it would be appropriate to pay them the federal minimum wage for their troubles. The cost of ten Lords-a-leaping, however, is more than 241 times more expensive.

During the academic year of 2021-22, public school teachers in the United States made an average of 66,397 U.S. dollars per year. This is a significant increase from the 1979-80 school year, when the average annual wage for public school teachers was 15,970 U.S. dollars.

Stagnating wages

While the American economy is doing well, wages have been stagnating in recent years. The federal minimum wage, which currently stands at 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, has not been raised since July 2009, meaning that minimum wage has not increased with inflation. Although minimum wage varies by state, the federal minimum wage prevails in many states. Additionally, median hourly earnings for workers, while increasing steadily, have not seen any significant jumps in recent years.

Fair pay for teachers

The majority of Americans believe that teachers are not paid fairly for the work that they do. Full-time public elementary and secondary school teachers in the U.S. have the highest salary in New York state, but the lowest salary in Mississippi.

Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Median data was reported at 3.680 % in 28 Jun 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.670 % for 27 Jun 2019. Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Median data is updated daily, averaging 5.240 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 28 Jun 2019, with 4401 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.350 % in 19 Dec 2002 and a record low of 3.380 % in 23 May 2007. Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Median data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Business and Economic Survey – Table BR.SA032: Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed. Market Expectations System was implemented in November 2001, previous projections were collected from incipient through telephone contacts, transcribed into spreadsheets and consolidated manually. Some empty time points occurred because the Market didn´t have the expectation for those days. Monitors the variations in costs of people earning from one to forty minimum wages in the metropolitan areas of Belém, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo, municipality of Goiânia and Federal District. The IPCA measures the change in cost of expenses as described above in the period from the first to the last day of each reference month. In the period from the eleventh day to the twenty day of the following month the IBGE announces the variations.

Minimum Wages in Canada increased to 17.60 CAD/Hour in 2025 from 17.20 CAD/Hour in 2024. This dataset provides - Canada Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The inflation rate in the United States is expected to decrease to 2.1 percent by 2029. 2022 saw a year of exceptionally high inflation, reaching eight percent for the year. The data represents U.S. city averages. The base period was 1982-84. In economics, the inflation rate is a measurement of inflation, the rate of increase of a price index (in this case: consumer price index). It is the percentage rate of change in prices level over time. The rate of decrease in the purchasing power of money is approximately equal. According to the forecast, prices will increase by 2.9 percent in 2024. The annual inflation rate for previous years can be found here and the consumer price index for all urban consumers here. The monthly inflation rate for the United States can also be accessed here. Inflation in the U.S.Inflation is a term used to describe a general rise in the price of goods and services in an economy over a given period of time. Inflation in the United States is calculated using the consumer price index (CPI). The consumer price index is a measure of change in the price level of a preselected market basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households. This forecast of U.S. inflation was prepared by the International Monetary Fund. They project that inflation will stay higher than average throughout 2023, followed by a decrease to around roughly two percent annual rise in the general level of prices until 2028. Considering the annual inflation rate in the United States in 2021, a two percent inflation rate is a very moderate projection. The 2022 spike in inflation in the United States and worldwide is due to a variety of factors that have put constraints on various aspects of the economy. These factors include COVID-19 pandemic spending and supply-chain constraints, disruptions due to the war in Ukraine, and pandemic related changes in the labor force. Although the moderate inflation of prices between two and three percent is considered normal in a modern economy, countries’ central banks try to prevent severe inflation and deflation to keep the growth of prices to a minimum. Severe inflation is considered dangerous to a country’s economy because it can rapidly diminish the population’s purchasing power and thus damage the GDP .

Minimum Wages in Philippines remained unchanged at 645 PHP/day in 2025 from 645 PHP/day in 2024. This dataset provides - Philippines Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Average data was reported at 3.740 % in Jun 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.590 % for May 2019. Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Average data is updated monthly, averaging 5.240 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to Jun 2019, with 211 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.100 % in Dec 2002 and a record low of 3.440 % in May 2007. Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Average data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Business and Economic Survey – Table BR.SB032: Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed. Market Expectations System was implemented in November 2001, previous projections were collected from incipient through telephone contacts, transcribed into spreadsheets and consolidated manually. Some empty time points occurred because the Market didn´t have the expectation for those days. Monitors the variations in costs of people earning from one to forty minimum wages in the metropolitan areas of Belém, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo, municipality of Goiânia and Federal District. The IPCA measures the change in cost of expenses as described above in the period from the first to the last day of each reference month. In the period from the eleventh day to the twenty day of the following month the IBGE announces the variations.

Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Standard Deviation data was reported at 0.320 % in 28 Jun 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.320 % for 27 Jun 2019. Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Standard Deviation data is updated daily, averaging 0.390 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 28 Jun 2019, with 4401 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.790 % in 17 Oct 2002 and a record low of 0.200 % in 24 Dec 2018. Brazil Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed: Standard Deviation data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Business and Economic Survey – Table BR.SA032: Market Expectation: Inflation: Accumulated Over Next 12 Months: Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA): Smoothed. Market Expectations System was implemented in November 2001, previous projections were collected from incipient through telephone contacts, transcribed into spreadsheets and consolidated manually. Some empty time points occurred because the Market didn´t have the expectation for those days. Monitors the variations in costs of people earning from one to forty minimum wages in the metropolitan areas of Belém, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo, municipality of Goiânia and Federal District. The IPCA measures the change in cost of expenses as described above in the period from the first to the last day of each reference month. In the period from the eleventh day to the twenty day of the following month the IBGE announces the variations.