Chart 3

Preliminary, not final. The Fed OT salary threshold and the minimum wage, 1949–2016

Dates Federal OT salary threshold (annualized) Federal minimum wage*
1949 $5200 832
1958 6500 2080
1963 7800 2600
1970 10400 3328
1975 13000 4368
2004 23660 10712
2016 47476 15080
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Economic Policy Institute

Notes:

Years provided are years in which the federal OT salary threshold was updated.

*Annual earnings for full time full year workers earning the federal minimum wage

**Annual earnings for full time full year workers earning the Washington state minimum wage

For years 1949, 1958, 1963 & 1970, data is unavailable for WA minimum wage

 

Sources: EPI analysis of Social Security Administration National Wage Index data; Office of Financial Management data; Table 1 in Social Security Bulletin, November 1949; Fair labor standards act and amendments:Wage and Hour Division,81 Fed. Reg. 32449-32450 (May 23, 2018);Washington State Department of Labor and Industries; and Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment and Earnings data

 

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