The 'real' minimum wage refers to the value of that wage in 2021 U.S. dollars. The federal minimum wage has been 7.25 since 2009, but due to inflation, the real value of that wage has changed overtime.
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Minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the U.S. 1968-2021
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.
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Center for Economic and Policy Research (U.S.). (August 19, 2021). Value of the minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 19, 2026, from /statistics/1056023/value-minimum-wage-grew-productivity-us/
Center for Economic and Policy Research (U.S.). "Value of the minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 19, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 19, 2026. /statistics/1056023/value-minimum-wage-grew-productivity-us/
Center for Economic and Policy Research (U.S.). (2021). Value of the minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. dollars). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 19, 2026. /statistics/1056023/value-minimum-wage-grew-productivity-us/
Center for Economic and Policy Research (U.S.). "Value of The Minimum Wage If It Grew with Productivity in The United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. Dollars)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 19 Aug 2021, /statistics/1056023/value-minimum-wage-grew-productivity-us/
Center for Economic and Policy Research (U.S.), Value of the minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. dollars) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1056023/value-minimum-wage-grew-productivity-us/ (last visited July 19, 2026)
Value of the minimum wage if it grew with productivity in the United States from 1968 to 2021 (in 2021 U.S. dollars) [Graph], Center for Economic and Policy Research (U.S.), August 19, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1056023/value-minimum-wage-grew-productivity-us/
