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.

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

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 proposal to raise the minimum wage from **** to * U.S. dollars an hour with automatic increases tied to inflation. Some ** percent of Independent respondents said they would vote against such a proposal.

In April 2025, the UK minimum wage for adults over the age of 21 in will be 12.21 pounds per hour. For the 2025/26 financial year, there will be four minimum wage categories, three of which are based on age and one for apprentice workers. Apprentices, and workers under the age of 18 will have a minimum wage of 7.55 pounds an hour, increasing to ten pounds for those aged 18 to 20. When the minimum wage was first introduced in 1999, there were just two age categories; 18 to 21, and 22 and over. This increased to three categories in 2004, four in 2010, and five between 2016 and 2023, before being reduced down to four in the most recent year. The living wage The living wage is an alternative minimum wage amount that employers in the UK can voluntarily pay their employees. It is calculated independently of the legal minimum wage and results in a higher value figure. In 2023/24, for example, the living wage was twelve pounds an hour for the UK as a whole and 13.15 for workers in London, where the cost of living is typically higher. This living wage is different from what the UK government has named the national living wage, which was 10.42 in the same financial year. Between 2011/12 and 2023/24, the living wage has increased by 4.80 pounds, while the London living wage has grown by 4.85 pounds. Wage growth cancelled-out by high inflation 2021-2023 For a long period between the middle of 2021 and late 2023, average wage growth in the UK was unable to keep up with record inflation levels, resulting in the biggest fall in disposable income since 1956. Although the UK government attempted to mitigate the impact of falling living standards through a series of cost of living payments, the situation has still been very difficult for households. After peaking at 11.1 percent in October 2022, the UK's inflation rate remained in double figures until March 2023, and did not fall to the preferred rate of two percent until May 2024. As of November 2024, regular weekly pay in the UK was growing by 5.6 percent in nominal terms, and 2.5 percent when adjusted for inflation.

Graph and download economic data for State Minimum Wage Rate for California (STTMINWGCA) from 1968 to 2025 about minimum wage, wages, CA, rate, and USA.

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.

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.

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.

Wages in the United States increased 4.86 percent in August 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.

Minimum Wages in Indonesia increased to 5.40 IDR Million/Month in 2025 from 5.07 IDR Million/Month in 2024. This dataset provides - Indonesia Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Minimum Wages in Chile increased to 529000 CLP/Month in 2025 from 500000 CLP/Month in 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Chile Minimum Monthly Wages - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This web map, used in The Ever-Changing Minimum Wage Story Map Journal, comprises a selection of feature layers that provide an overview of minimum wages and policies for the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, and 36 other localities (counties, cities). Essential data points include minimum wages effective in 2018, historical state minimum wages from 1968 through 2017 (adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars), comparative data with state living wages (2016 update), and benchmarks for future minimum wages where available. This data was digitized and compiled from the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Conference on State Legislatures, the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center, and MIT's Living Wage Calculator.The styling for this web map uses the composite geographies layout with a dark gray background. Composite geographies are a customized solution created by Esri's David Asbury in order to position Alaska and Hawaii adjacent to the contiguous United States within a Web Mercator projection web map. The dark theme is achieved with a dark gray feature layer that serves as a background to mask out the default background. For more information about using composite geographies, read this blog.

In France, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the hourly gross minimum wage has been multiplied by around *** since March 1990. For the same period, the consumer price index indicated that inflation had increased by around *** since March 1990.

Minimum Wages in Egypt increased to 7000 EGP/Month in 2025 from 6000 EGP/Month in 2024. This dataset provides - Egypt Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for State Minimum Wage Rate for Michigan (STTMINWGMI) from 1968 to 2025 about minimum wage, MI, wages, rate, and USA.

Replication Data for: The minimum wage in formal and informal sectors: Evidence from an inflation shock

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.

Of the G20 countries, Argentina saw the largest increase of the net minimum wage from January 2023 to January 2024, with wages increasing by almost *** percent. This must be seen in relation with the country's soaring inflation rates. The same can be said of Turkey, where minimum wages almost doubled from 2023 to 2024.

Minimum Wages in Turkey increased to 26005.50 TRY/Month in 2025 from 20002.50 TRY/Month in 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Turkey Minimum Monthly Wage - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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.