Minimum wage workers in the U.S. make the same federal minimum wage today as they did 15 years ago

Question

This claim is true. The federal minimum wage in the United States has been $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. Despite inflation and rising living costs, Congress has not passed any increases to the federal rate in over 15 years. While many states and cities have raised their own minimum wages during this time, millions of workers especially in states that follow the federal standard still earn only $7.25.

Because living expenses, housing costs, and food prices have increased significantly since 2009, the real value of the federal minimum wage is lower today than it was 15 years ago. Researchers estimate that the buying power of $7.25 has dropped by about 30% since it was last raised. This means that even though the number hasn’t changed, the wage is effectively worth much less in today’s economy.

So the claim that the federal minimum wage has stayed the same for 15 years is accurate, and it highlights ongoing debates about wage policy, cost of living, and economic inequality.

Answer 1

The claim that minimum wage workers in the United States make the same federal minimum wage today as they did 15 years ago is true. According to primary sources from the U.S. Department of Labor, the federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009, and Congress has not passed any legislation to raise it since then. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that inflation and the cost of living have increased significantly over this period, meaning the real purchasing power of $7.25 is substantially lower today than it was in 2009. Secondary reporting from major news organizations and economic research groups confirms that although many states and cities have enacted higher minimum wages, millions of workers—particularly in states that follow the federal standard—still earn $7.25. While government agencies aim to provide neutral data and media outlets may frame the issue within broader debates about inequality, the available evidence strongly supports the claim and underscores its economic significance.

Answer 2

I investigated the claim that minimum wage workers in the United States make the same federal minimum wage today as they did 15 years ago. After reviewing official government records and multiple secondary analyses, I found that this claim is accurate. The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since July 2009, and Congress has not passed any federal increases since then. While many states and cities have raised their own minimum wages, the federal rate still applies in states that follow the federal standard.

U.S. Department of Labor – Minimum Wage History
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history

This official Department of Labor page lists all changes to the federal minimum wage over time. It shows that the last increase occurred on July 24, 2009, when the wage was raised to $7.25 per hour. There have been no federal increases since that date, confirming that the nominal federal minimum wage has remained unchanged for over 15 years.

CNBC – “Inflation leads federal minimum wage to reach lowest value since 1956”
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/15/inflation-leads-federal-minimum-wage-to-reach-lowest-value-since-1956.html

This article reports that the federal minimum wage has not changed since 2009 and discusses how inflation has reduced its real purchasing power. It cites research from the Economic Policy Institute and places the stagnant wage in historical context.

Economic Policy Institute – “The value of the federal minimum wage is at its lowest point in 66 years”
https://www.epi.org/blog/the-value-of-the-federal-minimum-wage-is-at-its-lowest-point-in-66-years/

The Economic Policy Institute confirms that the federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2009. The article explains how inflation has significantly lowered the real value of the wage, despite the nominal number staying the same.

Center for American Progress – “Minimum wage workers lost nearly a year’s salary to inflation”
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/minimum-wage-workers-lost-nearly-years-salary-inflation/

This analysis discusses how the lack of federal minimum wage increases since 2009 has affected workers’ earnings over time. It supports the claim by noting the long period without federal legislative action on wage increases.

The U.S. Department of Labor is a federal government agency and serves as an authoritative source for wage law and history, though it reflects official federal records rather than advocacy perspectives.

CNBC is a commercial news outlet that may emphasize economic trends that interest its audience, but it relies on verifiable data and expert analysis.

The Economic Policy Institute and the Center for American Progress are policy organizations that advocate for labor and economic reforms. While they may emphasize the negative impacts of wage stagnation, their claims are supported by publicly available data and government records.

The Department of Labor’s official minimum wage history shows that the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since July 2009. Multiple secondary sources independently confirm that no federal increase has occurred since then. Together, these sources demonstrate that minimum wage workers in states following the federal standard earn the same nominal wage today as they did 15 years ago.

There is no evidence undermining the claim regarding the federal minimum wage. However, the claim could be misleading if it does not clarify that many states and cities have enacted higher minimum wages. Workers in those locations may earn more than the federal minimum, even though the federal rate itself has remained unchanged.

The claim was presented as a general public statement rather than attributed to a specific individual or organization. Because there was no identifiable author or group responsible for the original claim, I was unable to directly contact a source for comment.