Labor Policy Dashboard

U.S. Minimum Wage
History, 1980–2022

Four decades of state and federal minimum wage policy across all 51 jurisdictions. Effective wage = the higher of state law or the federal floor.

$7.25
Federal Floor
$16.10
Highest 2022
(D.C.)
Federal Floor 2022
$7.25
Unchanged since July 2009
States Above Federal
of 51 jurisdictions, 2022
Median Eff. Wage 2022
Across all 51 jurisdictions
Federal Increase 1980–2022
+$4.15
$3.10 → $7.25
Year 2022
Hover states for details
$3.00 $17.00
Year 2022
Above federal At federal floor
# State 2022 Wage vs. Federal Growth since 1980
Source: Vaghul, K. and Zipperer, B. (2022). "Historical State and Sub-state Minimum Wages," Version 1.4.0. github.com/benzipperer/historicalminwage. Effective minimum wage = max(state law, federal floor), annual (January 1 of each year). States without their own wage law above the federal floor appear at the federal rate.