The Fact
The federal minimum wage rose to $7.25 an hour on July 24, 2009. U.S. Department of Labor data show that the federal rate has remained $7.25 through 2026.
What This Means
The federal wage floor has not changed for more than 16 years. States and cities can set higher minimums, but the nationwide federal floor itself has stayed fixed while prices, housing, healthcare, and other household costs changed around it.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2009; U.S. Department of Labor minimum-wage series as published by FRED, Federal Minimum Wage Rate under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.