Chart 5
Preliminary, not final.The Fed OT salary threshold relative to minimum wage, 1949–2016
| Date | Fedderal OT threshold/ federal min wage | line | Federal minimum wage *40 | Federal minimum wage | Federal OT threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 3 | ||||
| 1949 | 6.25 | 16 | 0.4 | 100 | |
| 1950 | 3.333333 | 30 | 0.75 | 100 | |
| 1951 | 3.333333 | 30 | 0.75 | 100 | |
| 1952 | 3.333333 | 30 | 0.75 | 100 | |
| 1953 | 3.333333 | 30 | 0.75 | 100 | |
| 1954 | 3.333333 | 30 | 0.75 | 100 | |
| 1955 | 3.333333 | 30 | 0.75 | 100 | |
| 1956 | 2.5 | 40 | 1 | 100 | |
| 1957 | 2.5 | 40 | 1 | 100 | |
| 1958 | 3.125 | 40 | 1 | 125 | |
| 1959 | 3.125 | 40 | 1 | 125 | |
| 1960 | 3.125 | 40 | 1 | 125 | |
| 1961 | 2.717391 | 46 | 1.15 | 125 | |
| 1962 | 2.717391 | 46 | 1.15 | 125 | |
| 1963 | 3 | 50 | 1.25 | 150 | |
| 1964 | 3.26087 | 46 | 1.15 | 150 | |
| 1965 | 3 | 50 | 1.25 | 150 | |
| 1966 | 3 | 50 | 1.25 | 150 | |
| 1967 | 3.75 | 40 | 1 | 150 | |
| 1968 | 3.26087 | 46 | 1.15 | 150 | |
| 1969 | 2.884615 | 52 | 1.3 | 150 | |
| 1970 | 3.448276 | 58 | 1.45 | 200 | |
| 1971 | 3.125 | 64 | 1.6 | 200 | |
| 1972 | 3.125 | 64 | 1.6 | 200 | |
| 1973 | 3.125 | 64 | 1.6 | 200 | |
| 1974 | 2.631579 | 76 | 1.9 | 200 | |
| 1975 | 3.125 | 80 | 2 | 250 | |
| 1976 | 2.840909 | 88 | 2.2 | 250 | |
| 1977 | 2.717391 | 92 | 2.3 | 250 | |
| 1978 | 2.358491 | 106 | 2.65 | 250 | |
| 1979 | 2.155172 | 116 | 2.9 | 250 | |
| 1980 | 2.016129 | 124 | 3.1 | 250 | |
| 1981 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1982 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1983 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1984 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1985 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1986 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1987 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1988 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1989 | 1.865672 | 134 | 3.35 | 250 | |
| 1990 | 1.644737 | 152 | 3.8 | 250 | |
| 1991 | 1.470588 | 170 | 4.25 | 250 | |
| 1992 | 1.470588 | 170 | 4.25 | 250 | |
| 1993 | 1.470588 | 170 | 4.25 | 250 | |
| 1994 | 1.470588 | 170 | 4.25 | 250 | |
| 1995 | 1.470588 | 170 | 4.25 | 250 | |
| 1996 | 1.315789 | 190 | 4.75 | 250 | |
| 1997 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 1998 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 1999 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 2000 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 2001 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 2002 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 2003 | 1.213592 | 206 | 5.15 | 250 | |
| 2004 | 2.208738 | 206 | 5.15 | 455 | |
| 2005 | 2.208738 | 206 | 5.15 | 455 | |
| 2006 | 2.208738 | 206 | 5.15 | 455 | |
| 2007 | 1.944444 | 234 | 5.85 | 455 | |
| 2008 | 1.736641 | 262 | 6.55 | 455 | |
| 2009 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2010 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2011 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2012 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2013 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2014 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2015 | 1.568966 | 290 | 7.25 | 455 | |
| 2016 | 3.148276 | 3 | 290 | 7.25 | 913 |
| 2017 | 3 |
Notes:
Years provided are years in which the federal OT salary threshold was updated.
**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
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; US department of Commerce and US Department of Labor
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