This Was The Minimum Wage The Year You Were Born

Evolution Of The Minimum Wage

Did you know that the federal minimum wage hasn't changed since 2009? Or that the minimum wage was higher in the 1950s than it is today (when adjusted for inflation)? Do you remember what you got paid for your first minimum wage job?

You'll be shocked to see how the minimum wage has changed (and not changed) over the years—and how it compares to today's rate when inflation is taken into account.

Pay attention to that "In 2025 dollars" number and notice how much more we used to value minimum wage workers than we do today (keep in mind that our current minimum wage is a measly $7.25).

Minimum Wage Year Born L

1938

US minimum wage: 25 cents

In 2025 dollars: $5.60

Gettyimages - 804476764, Automobile Workers Playing Bingo At A Carnival At Dearborn Michigan USA circa 1938 Automobile workers playing bingo at a carnival at Dearborn, Michigan, USA, c1938. Dearborn is the site of the Ford Motor Company's River Rouge Complex plant, built between 1917 and 1928. In the 1930s it employed over 100,000 workers. Heritage Images, Getty Images

1939

US minimum wage: 30 cents

In 2025 dollars: $6.81

Gettyimages - 1248925806, Lumberjacks 1930s Two Men Lumberjacks Working Together Using Compressed Air Pneumatic Chain Saw To Cut And Fell A Large Tree ClassicStock, Getty Images

1940

US minimum wage: 30 cents

In 2025 dollars: $6.76

File:WomanFactory1940s.jpg Howard R. Hollem, Wikimedia Commons

1941

US minimum wage: 30 cents

In 2025 dollars: $6.44

Gettyimages - 1447262578, African American Restaurant Workers African American restaurant workers, Investment Pharmacy, Washington, D.C., July 1941. Heritage Images, Getty Images

1942

US minimum wage: 30 cents

In 2025 dollars: $5.81

File:African-American workers laying railroad ties for spur line, 1942 (27255092036).jpg National Museum of the USNavy, Wikimedia Commons

1943

US minimum wage: 30 cents

In 2025 dollars: $5.47

Gettyimages - 1477087913, War Work 1940s two girls in overalls work and clothes hairnet and scarf operating a drill press and oil can female defensive workers. ClassicStock, Getty Images

1944

US minimum wage: 30 cents

In 2025 dollars: $5.38

Gettyimages - 843982372, Tri des canneberges Tri des canneberges (cranberry) passant sur un tapis automatisé dans une usine aux Etats-Unis, en novembre 1944 - L'homme en arrière-plan supervise le travail d'une employée. Keystone-France, Getty Images

1945

US minimum wage: 40 cents

In 2025 dollars: $7.01

File:Wright R-1820 for Douglas SBDs.jpg Official USNavy photo 80-G-412712, Wikimedia Commons

1946

US minimum wage: 40 cents

In 2025 dollars: $6.47

Gettyimages - 1315468844, Working on Wall Street At the end of the trading day, the floor of the New York Stock Exchange is practically ankle deep in scraps of paper. Some of these scraps carry computations that might have made or lost small fortunes. The paper is carefully swept up and salvaged at the rate of 40,000 pounds a month. Bettmann, Getty Images

1947

US minimum wage: 40 cents

In 2024 dollars: $5.66

Gettyimages - 1228704041, USA-NEW YORK-CHINATOWN A Irish-born employee makes back-scratchers in a Chinese workshop, in January 1947 in Chinatown, New York City. ERIC SCHWAB, Getty Images

1948

US minimum wage: 40 cents

In 2025 dollars: $5.24

File:Coal miners.jpg Janet Lindenmuth from Wilmington, Delaware, USA, Wikimedia Commons

1949

US minimum wage: 40 cents

In 2025 dollars: $5.30

Bettmann, Getty Images

1950

US minimum wage: 75 cents

In 2025 dollars: $9.82

File:Early US Census Machines 1950 08026.jpg USCensus, Wikimedia Commons

1951

US minimum wage: 75 cents

In 2025 dollars: $9.10

Gettyimages - 1048089660, Douglas strike...Long Beach, 1951 University of Southern California, Getty Images

1952

US minimum wage: 75 cents

In 2025 dollars: $8.93

Gettyimages - 1248924030, Milk Assembly Line 1960s Quart Glass Milk Bottles Being Filled And Capped Man Employee Working On Food Processing Assembly Line In A Dairy ClassicStock, Getty Images

1953

US minimum wage: 75 cents

In 2025 dollars: $8.87

File:Civil Works Administration (CWA) workmen cleaning and painting the gold dome of the Denver Capitol, 1934 - NARA - 541904.jpg Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Wikimedia Commons

1954

US minimum wage: 75 cents

In 2025 dollars: $8.80

Gettyimages - 515983148, Veteran Waiter Serving in the Capitol (Original Caption) 9/24/1954-Washington, DC- Waiter Richard Lomax, employed at the House of Representatives, located in the House wing of the Capital. He has been serving the Republican round table since 1928. He is shown carrying a large tray. Bettmann, Getty Images

1955

US minimum wage: 75 cents

In 2025 dollars: $8.83

Gettyimages - 2025430505, Winchester Repeating Arms Company Factory, New Haven, Connecticut An employee sits with firing mechanism components on the workbench before her during the manufacture of Winchester rifles, at the Winchester Repeating Arms Company factory in New Haven, Connecticut, circa 1955. Graphic House, Getty Images

1956

US minimum wage: $1

In 2025 dollars: $11.60

File:Old timer structural worker2.jpg Lewis Hine, Wikimedia Commons

1957

US minimum wage: $1

In 2025 dollars: $11.23

Gettyimages - 3435733, Milk Maid Queen February 1957: By day, 20-year-old Evelyn Clegg is employed as a Civil Servant in Whitehall, but she spends her evenings and weekends working at a dairy farm in Richmond. She was chosen to be Britain's Milk Maid Queen by the Milk Marketing Board, and is currently fronting their 'Drink More Milk' campaign. Lee Tracey, Getty Images

1958

US minimum wage: $1

In 2025 dollars: $10.92

Strike Kheel Center, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1959

US minimum wage: $1

In 2025 dollars: $10.85

Gettyimages - 90777296, Production line worker with Hoovermatic twin tub washing machines, Merthyr. WALES - MAY 06: Based in Ohio USA , Hoover came to Pentrebach - Welsh development area hit by unemployment in the local coal industry - to manufacture their Hoovermatic electric washing machine Walter Nurnberg, Getty Images

1960

US minimum wage: $1

In 2025 dollars: $10.66

File:Gary Plant Tubular Steel Corporation.jpg M. Marshall, Wikimedia Commons

1961

US minimum wage: $1.15

In 2025 dollars: $12.14

Gettyimages - 1047960854, Gas main break -- Pacific Palisades, 1961 University of Southern California, Getty Images

1962

US minimum wage: $1.15

In 2025 dollars: $11.95

Gettyimages - 1248925183, Offshore Oil Drill In Gulf Of Mexico 1960s Four Men Roughnecks Drillers Wearing Safety Hard Hats And Canvas Clothing Working On Offshore Oil Drill In Gulf Of Mexico H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock, Getty Images

1963

US minimum wage: $1.25

In 2025 dollars: $12.89

Gettyimages - 515512266, Pressman Holding Newspaper (Original Caption) Last Run. New York: An unidentified Mirror pressman holds a copy of the New York Mirror as the last edition rolls of the presses. Employees were told at 6:30 P.M. EDT that the paper was finished publishing effective tonight's edition. The Hearst publication was bought out by the New York Daily News its chief competitor. Bettmann, Getty Images

1964

US minimum wage: $1.25

In 2025 dollars: $12.73

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S1011-0003, Erfurt, Bauarbeiter Isolierstoffe vorbereitend.jpg Jürgen Ludwig, Wikimedia Commons

1965

US minimum wage: $1.25

In 2025 dollars: $12.52

Gettyimages - 1492197659, Goodbody & Co, NYC Employees of US stock brokerage Goodbody & Co at the company's headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, New York, circa 1965. John Pratt, Getty Images

1966

US minimum wage: $1.25

In 2025 dollars: $12.18

Gettyimages - 1318483857, Postal Employees Sort Mail View of postal employees as they hand-sort mail on table, March 1, 1966. PhotoQuest, Getty Images

1967

US minimum wage: $1.40

In 2025 dollars: $13.23

File:Crewmen in the Main Battery Plot of USS Canberra (CAG-2) off Vietnam, in March 1967 (USN 1142153).jpg Chief Journalist Robert D. Moeser, USNavy, Wikimedia Commons

1968

US minimum wage: $1.60

In 2025 dollars: $14.51

Gettyimages - 162079505, OCT 31 1968, NOV 7 1968; Robert Maestas, a Barnett Co. employe, cuts a steel support beam from Hewit OCT 31 1968, NOV 7 1968; Robert Maestas, a Barnett Co. employe, cuts a steel support beam from Hewitt Building wall, 728 15th St., as wrecking enters final stages.; Duane Howell, Getty Images

1969

US minimum wage: $1.60

In 2025 dollars: $13.76

Gettyimages - 1298273241, 1960s Textile Worker 1960s Textile Man Working Watching Operating Wool Carding Machine In Woolen Mill. H. Armstrong Roberts, ClassicStock, Getty Images

1970

US minimum wage: $1.60

In 2025 dollars: $13.01

Gettyimages - 179710047, Baltimore Fast Food Three fast food restaurant employees are at the counter, Baltimore, Maryland, 1970. Afro Newspaper, Gado, Getty Images

1971

US minimum wage: $1.60

In 2025 dollars: $12.47

Gettyimages - 2186417914, Belle Meade Country Club Employees In Nashville Tennessee A group of African American kitchen workers and waitstaff prepare for guests at the Belle Meade Country Club in 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee. Leila Grossman, Getty Images

1972

US minimum wage: $1.60

In 2025 dollars: $12.08

a black and white photo of a large truck Amir Shiri, Unsplash

1973

US minimum wage: $1.60

In 2025 dollars: $11.37

Gettyimages - 836927410, Denver Post Archives MAR 20 1973, MAR 21 1973 Petzoldt Staffers Scale 'Mountain' Here Haven Holsapple Completes Climb To Top Of Building And Is Helped Over Edge By Rick Pallister Holsapple formerly taught cave exploring in Tennessee for Paul Petzoldt's National Outdoor Leadership School. Credit: Denver Post Denver Post, Getty Images

1974

US minimum wage: $2

In 2025 dollars: $12.80

Gettyimages - 838144468, Denver Post Archives MAY 10 1974, MAY 15 1974 Frank Miller tents for seasonal employees for Rocky Mountain National Park Credit: Denver Post Denver Post, Getty Images

1975

US minimum wage: $2.10

In 2025 dollars: $12.32

Gettyimages - 1429939870, WWD, Getty Images

1976

US minimum wage: $2.30

In 2025 dollars: $12.76

grayscale photo of man and woman standing on wooden fence Austrian National Library, Unsplash

1977

US minimum wage: $2.30

In 2025 dollars: $11.98

File:Láng Gépgyár, 1977 Fortepan 89049.jpg FOTO:Fortepan — ID 89049: Adomanyozo/Donor: Urban Tamas., Wikimedia Commons

1978

US minimum wage: $2.65

In 2025 dollars: $12.83

Roxanne McCann, Getty Images

1979

US minimum wage: $2.90

In 2025 dollars: $12.61

Gettyimages - 1318483525, In Line At McDonald's View along the counter of a McDonald's fast food restaurant as employees serve a line of customers, Washington DC, February 9, 1979. PhotoQuest, Getty Images

1980

US minimum wage: $3.10

In 2025 dollars: $11.87

File:1980s computer worker, Centers for Disease Control.jpg USCenters for Disease Control, Wikimedia Commons

1981

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $11.63

Denver Post, Getty Images

1982

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $10.96

Gettyimages - 162081095, AUG 20 1982, AUG 29 1982; Cinderella Twin employee mops up after concession stand is stormed; AUG 20 1982, AUG 29 1982; Cinderella Twin employee mops up after concession stand is stormed The Denver Post, Getty Images

1983

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $10.62

Gettyimages - 174012783, US-CADILLAC-PLANT-DETROIT An employee works on the assembly line, on June 1983 at the Cadillac carmaker plant. STRINGER, Getty Images

1984

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $10.18

Gettyimages - 162086110, JAN 9 1984, FEB 10 1984; Gene & Dee Milstein is parking room machine as right packs the seeds in emp JAN 9 1984, FEB 10 1984; Gene & Dee Milstein is parking room machine as right packs the seeds in employe Ed Maker, Getty Images

1985

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $9.83

File:Portret van Barbara van Loon, 1985.jpg Jan Holvast (maker) ; Rechthebbende Historische Vereniging Oud Leiden, Wikimedia Commons

1986

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $9.65

Gettyimages - 161883474, MAY 18 1986; Employees, Tammy Swier and Candy Pineda look at the VCR cassette tapes at Colfax Video, MAY 18 1986; Employees, Tammy Swier and Candy Pineda look at the VCR cassette tapes at Colfax Video, 5158 East Colfax (388-5763).; Lyn Alweis, Getty Images

1987

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $9.31

Gettyimages - 162066746, 1-26-87; Domino's employees man the phones during the first half of the Super Bowl..; 1-26-87; Domino's employees man the phones during the first half of the Super Bowl..; Dennis Chamberlin, Getty Images

1988

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $8.94

Gettyimages - 50360818, Postal employees sorting parcels. (Phot Postal employees sorting parcels. Cynthia Johnson, Getty Images

1989

US minimum wage: $3.35

In 2025 dollars: $8.53

Construction Workers Photograph was taken as part of a publicity shoot organized by Hamilton Wright, Jr. Photographer unknown., Wikimedia Commons

1990

US minimum wage: $3.80

In 2025 dollars: $9.18

Gettyimages - 182993244, Sweatshop In Queens QUEENS, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Immigrant workers at a sweatshop in Queens, New York are photographed March 25, 1990. Employees work long hours for very little pay and are exposed to unsafe conditions. Child labor laws are violated as well as buiding codes, such as fire hazards, ignored. Yvonne Hemsey, Getty Images

1991

US minimum wage: $4.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.85

Gettyimages - 1258310086, US-ENVIRONMENT-RECYCLING Workers sort colored plastics 09 May 2007 at the Montgomery County Recycling Center in Rockville, Maryland. The 57 000 square-foot (5295 square-meter) facility cost approximately nine million USD to construct and opened in 1991. TIM SLOAN, Getty Images

1992

US minimum wage: $4.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.56

Gettyimages - 50595416, Bakery employees hefting sack labeled US Bakery employees hefting sack labeled USA Sorghum not to be exchanged or sold fr. pile Barry Iverson, Getty Images

1993

US minimum wage: $4.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.28

Gettyimages - 590731582, French Car Manufacturer Renault Employees fixing the wheels on the production line for Renault Twingo cars. pitchal frederic, Getty Images

1994

US minimum wage: $4.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.05

Gettyimages - 50371763, Baxter Intl. employee stocking medical s Baxter Intl. employee stocking medical supplies directly on floor of Seton Medical Center, re improving service. John Storey, Getty Images

1995

US minimum wage: $4.25

In 2025 dollars: $8.80

Gettyimages - 1157464001, Paramit Corporation Assembly Line SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA APRIL 7, 1995: Thanh Vu, left, and Phuong Trang assemble computer circuit boards at Paramit Corporation. The MediaNews Group, The Mercury News, Getty Images

1996

US minimum wage: $4.75

In 2025 dollars: $9.55

Gettyimages - 1153508114, Liternia Dotson an assembly line employee at Ford, has enrolled in college working on BA from Metro State University. The class will be taught at the Ford plant in St. Paul Liternia Dotson an assembly line employee at Ford, has enrolled in college working on BA from Metro State University. The class will be taught at the Ford plant in St. Paul. Star Tribune via Getty Images, Getty Images

1997

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $10.13

File:Worker 9.JPG KINEX, Wikimedia Commons

1998

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $9.97

File:Ansel Adams - Farm workers and Mt. Williamson.jpg Ansel Adams, Wikimedia Commons

1999

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $9.76

File:Defense.gov News Photo 991002-F-3050V-512.jpg Staff Sgt. Jim Varhegyi, USAir Force, Wikimedia Commons

2000

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $9.44

File:Flickr - USCapitol - AOC Stone Masons at Work.jpg USCapitol, Wikimedia Commons

2001

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $9.18

Gettyimages - 1154146236, GENERAL INFORMATION: Woodbury, Mn., Thurs., Jan. 4, 2001--A development under construction that contains public housing units within a market rate complex. IN THIS PHOTO: Bill Henneberg (l.) and Carl Monn, employees of Doug Speedling Builders applied ins Star Tribune, Getty Images

2002

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $9.03

Gettyimages - 1154188656, GENERAL INFORMATION: Two water main breaks at the Guthrie Theater caused extensive damage. IN THIS PHOTO: Minneapolis, Mn., Thurs., Jan. 3, 2002--Matt Johnson, an employee of Pro 1 Restoration, shovels out the production, design, stage management and spe Star Tribune, Getty Images

2003

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $8.83

YOSHIKAZU TSUNO, Getty Images

2004

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $8.60

Gettyimages - 51778084, FILES - A file picture taken on 15 Marc NORBERT MILLAUER, Getty Images

2005

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $8.32

Gettyimages - 50825864, Ford Motor Company's Engine Plant No. 1 Reopens In Cleveland Shaun Heasley, Getty Images

2006

US minimum wage: $5.15

In 2025 dollars: $8.06

File:Construction Workers.jpg photo taken by flickr Paul Keheler, Wikimedia Commons

2007

US minimum wage: $5.85

In 2025 dollars: $8.90

Gettyimages - 56918257, FILES - Picture taken 25 January 2005 sh HANOVER, GERMANY: FILES - Picture taken 25 January 2005 shows employees of Continental, the German maker of tyres and car parts, testing new truck tyres at the Continental plant in Hanover. Continental said 23 February 2006 that it was eyeing acquisitions after earnings rose strongly in 2005. JOCHEN LUEBKE, Getty Images

2008

US minimum wage: $6.55

In 2025 dollars: $9.60

File:JACADS computer control room.jpg USArmy Chemical Materials Agency, Wikimedia Commons

2009

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $10.67

Gettyimages - 99873898, 2009 Showcase for Commerce UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 03: A worker TIG welds parts for the Stryker vehicle at JWF Defense Systems in Johnstown Pennsylvania. Douglas Graham, Getty Images

2010

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $10.49

File:Plumber at work 2010 USA.jpg ocean yamaha, Wikimedia Commons

2011

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $10.17

File:People Working At Wikimedia.jpg Victorgrigas, Wikimedia Commons

2012

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.97

File:Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - Construction workers assemble bleachers aboard USS Bataan..jpg Official Navy Page from United States of America MCSN Rob Aylward/USNavy, Wikimedia Commons

2013

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.82

Gettyimages - 1315491598, Subway employee Erin Gaffney uses a digital thermometer while taking notes of the readouts.Food safety is taken seriously at Subway restaurants, including daily checks of the temperature of ingredients and cooler space. MediaNews Group, Reading Eagle, Getty Images

2014

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.67

Gettyimages - 180501096, US-HEALTH CARE-TRADER JOE'S PAUL J. RICHARDS, Getty Images

2015

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.65

Construction Worker Capt. David Murphy, Wikimedia Commons

2016

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.53

Gettyimages - 1315461761, Barbara Goodling, of Wyomissing purchases fasnachts from Dosie Dough employee Troy Turner, 24, of Sinking Spring inside the bakery. MediaNews Group, Getty Images

2017

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.33

Gettyimages - 1315418301, Katelyn Dreibelbis 2017 Governor Mifflin Softball softSpring Scholastic Headshots Photo by Susan L. Angstadt 3/13/2017 MediaNews Group, Reading Eagle, Getty Images

2018

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $9.11

Gettyimages - 1007559416, Millionaire Marcus Lemonis of MediaNews Group, Orange County Register, Getty Images

2019

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $8.95

File:A Ghanaian Filling Station Attendant.jpg Gkbediako, Wikimedia Commons

2020

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $8.84

Uber Driver Max Chen, Getty Images

2021

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $8.44

Gettyimages - 680912094, US-UAE-DUBAI2020-UPS UPS employees sort out packages before loading them onto delivery trucks on May 9, 2017 at the Manhattan UPS facility in New York. UPS officials at a news conference discussed the decision by the World Expo 2020 Dubai to use UPS to handle the logistics operations for the event. DON EMMERT, Getty Images

2022

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $7.82

Gettyimages - 1238503256, Hiring Crisis At Hospitals Boston, MA - February 8: An employee who works in Materials Management at Brigham and Womens Hospital, stocks medical supplies while working at the hospital on in Boston on Feb. 8, 2022. Welcomed to the staff during a hiring crisis, he has been working at Brigham and Womens Hospital for four months. Boston Globe, Getty Images

2023

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $7.51

Gettyimages - 1278663143, Employees of Sunrun, nation's largest rooftop solar installer lift panels onto a roof Brian van der Brug, Getty Images

2024

US minimum wage: $7.25

In 2025 dollars: $7.30

Gettyimages - 1258693438, US-LABOR-IMMIGRATION-POLITICS JIM WATSON, Getty Images