Federal minimum wage as a share of average hourly earnings of production workers, 1968–2014 (actual) and 2015–2020 (projected)
| Ratio | Projected Ratio | |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 53.0% | |
| 1969 | 49.8% | |
| 1970 | 47.0% | |
| 1971 | 44.2% | |
| 1972 | 41.0% | |
| 1973 | 38.7% | |
| 1974 | 45.1% | |
| 1975 | 44.4% | |
| 1976 | 45.4% | |
| 1977 | 42.3% | |
| 1978 | 45.1% | |
| 1979 | 45.7% | |
| 1980 | 45.3% | |
| 1981 | 45.0% | |
| 1982 | 42.6% | |
| 1983 | 40.9% | |
| 1984 | 39.5% | |
| 1985 | 38.3% | |
| 1986 | 37.5% | |
| 1987 | 36.6% | |
| 1988 | 35.5% | |
| 1989 | 34.2% | |
| 1990 | 37.3% | |
| 1991 | 40.4% | |
| 1992 | 39.4% | |
| 1993 | 38.5% | |
| 1994 | 37.5% | |
| 1995 | 36.5% | |
| 1996 | 39.4% | |
| 1997 | 41.2% | |
| 1998 | 39.6% | |
| 1999 | 38.2% | |
| 2000 | 36.8% | |
| 2001 | 35.4% | |
| 2002 | 34.4% | |
| 2003 | 33.5% | |
| 2004 | 32.8% | |
| 2005 | 32.0% | |
| 2006 | 30.8% | |
| 2007 | 33.6% | |
| 2008 | 36.2% | |
| 2009 | 39.0% | |
| 2010 | 38.0% | |
| 2011 | 37.3% | |
| 2012 | 36.7% | |
| 2013 | 36.0% | |
| 2014 | 35.2% | |
| 2015 | 34.8% | 34.8% |
| 2016 | 37.6% | |
| 2017 | 41.4% | |
| 2018 | 44.9% | |
| 2019 | 48.3% | |
| 2020 | 51.4% |
Note: Projections over 2015–2020 assume the minimum wage is gradually raised to $12.00 by 2020 as stipulated by the Raise the Wage Act of 2015. See data appendix for methodology.
Source: Authors' analysis of Fair Labor Standards Act and amendments and Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics
