In accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the federal minimum wage in 1956 was set at $1/hr.
| Effective Date | 1938 Act 1 | 1961 Amendments 2 | 1966 and Subsequent Amendments 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 1938 | $0.25 | ||
| Oct 24, 1939 | $0.30 | ||
| Oct 24, 1945 | $0.40 | ||
| Jan 25, 1950 | $0.75 | ||
| Mar 1, 1956 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 3, 1961 | $1.15 | $1.00 | |
| Sep 3, 1963 | $1.25 | ||
| Sep 3, 1964 | $1.15 | ||
| Sep 3, 1965 | $1.25 | ||
| Feb 1, 1967 | $1.40 | $1.40 | Nonfarm – $1.00, Farm – $1.00 |
| Feb 1, 1968 | $1.60 | $1.60 | Nonfarm – $1.15, Farm – $1.15 |
| Feb 1, 1969 | Nonfarm – $1.30, Farm – $1.30 | ||
| Feb 1, 1970 | Nonfarm – $1.00 | ||
| Feb 1, 1971 | Nonfarm – $1.60 | ||
| May 1, 1974 | $2.00 | $2.00 | Nonfarm – $1.90, Farm – $1.60 |
| Jan. 1, 1975 | $2.10 | $2.10 | Nonfarm – $2.00, Farm – $1.80 |
| Jan 1, 1976 | $2.30 | $2.30 | Nonfarm – $2.20, Farm – $2.00 |
| Jan 1, 1977 | Nonfarm – $2.30, Farm – $2.20 | ||
| Jan 1, 1978 | $2.65 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $2.65 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $2.65 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Jan 1, 1979 | $2.90 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $2.90 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $2.90 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Jan 1, 1980 | $3.10 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $3.10 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $3.10 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Jan 1, 1981 | $3.35 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $3.35 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $3.35 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Apr 1, 1990 4 | $3.80 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $3.80 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $3.80 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Apr 1, 1991 | $4.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $4.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $4.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Oct 1, 1996 | $4.75 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $4.75 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $4.75 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Sep 1, 1997 5 | $5.15 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $5.15 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $5.15 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Jul 24, 2007 | $5.85 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $5.85 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $5.85 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Jul 24, 2008 | $6.55 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $6.55 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $6.55 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
| Jul 24, 2009 | $7.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $7.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers | $7.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers |
More than twenty states increased their minimum wages for workers in 2021. These states include Connecticut, Nevada, Oregon, Florida and others.
State Minimum Wage Rates
| State | 2020 Minimum Wage | 2021 Minimum Wage |
| Alabama | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) |
| Alaska | $10.19 | $10.34 |
| Arizona | $12.00 | $12.15 |
| Arkansas | $10.00 | $11.00 |
| California | $13.00 | $14.00* |
| Colorado | $12.00 | $12.32 |
| Connecticut | $12.00 | $13.00 (effective 8/1/21) |
| Delaware | $9.25 | $10.25 |
| Washington D.C. | $15.00 | $15.20 |
| Florida | $8.56 | $10.00 (effective 9/30/21) |
| Georgia | $5.15 (Employers subject to Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the $7.25 Federal minimum wage.) | $5.15 (Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the $7.25 Federal minimum wage) |
| Hawaii | $10.10 | $10.10 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Illinois | $10.00 | $11.00 |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) |
| Maine | $12.00 | $12.15 |
| Maryland | $11.00 | $11.75** |
| Massachusetts | $12.75 | $13.50 |
| Michigan | $9.65 | $9.65 |
| Minnesota | $10.00 | $10.08*** |
| Mississippi | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) |
| Missouri | $9.45 | $10.30 |
| Montana | $8.65 | $8.75 |
| Nebraska | $9.00 | $9.00 |
| Nevada | $8.00 | $8.75 (effective 7/1/21)**** |
| New Hampshire | $7.25) | $7.25 |
| New Jersey | $11.00 | $12.00***** |
| New Mexico | $9.00 | $10.50 |
| New York | $11.80 | $12.50****** |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Ohio | $8.70 | $8.80 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Oregon | $12.00 | $12.75 (effective 7/1/21)****** |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Rhode Island | $10.50 | $11.50 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) |
| South Dakota | $9.30 | $9.45 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) | $7.25 (Federal, no state minimum) |
| Texas | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Utah | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Vermont | $10.96 | $11.75 |
| Virginia | $7.25 | $9.50 (effective 5/1/21) |
| Washington | $13.50 | $13.69 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $8.75 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Wyoming | $5.15 (Employers subject to Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the Federal minimum wage.) | $5.15 (Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the $7.25 Federal minimum wage) |