A stagnating minimum wage has led to increased wage inequality: Federal minimum wage as a percentage of the average U.S. production worker wage, 1964–2014
| Minimum wage as a percentage of average wage | | |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 49.4% | 50% |
| 1965 | 47.6% | |
| 1966 | 45.7% | |
| 1967 | 49.1% | |
| 1968 | 53.0% | |
| 1969 | 49.8% | |
| 1970 | 47.0% | |
| 1971 | 44.1% | |
| 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 | 36.7% | |
| 1988 | 35.5% | |
| 1989 | 34.2% | |
| 1990 | 37.3% | |
| 1991 | 40.4% | |
| 1992 | 39.5% | |
| 1993 | 38.5% | |
| 1994 | 37.5% | |
| 1995 | 36.5% | |
| 1996 | 39.5% | |
| 1997 | 41.2% | |
| 1998 | 39.6% | |
| 1999 | 38.2% | |
| 2000 | 36.7% | |
| 2001 | 35.4% | |
| 2002 | 34.4% | |
| 2003 | 33.5% | |
| 2004 | 32.8% | |
| 2005 | 32.0% | |
| 2006 | 30.8% | |
| 2007 | 33.6% | |
| 2008 | 36.3% | |
| 2009 | 39.0% | |
| 2010 | 38.1% | |
| 2011 | 37.3% | |
| 2012 | 36.7% | |
| 2013 | 36.0% | |
| 2014 | 35.2% | 50% |
Source: Author’s analysis of Current Employment Statistics survey data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Fair Labor Standards Act and amendments