One hour of work at the federal minimum wage (1938)

October 24 · The first federal minimum

$0.25

One hour of work at the federal minimum wage in 1938 paid $0.25.

It rose to 30¢ a year later. Today's federal minimum, $7.25, hasn't changed since July 2009.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor. Prices are what people paid at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

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