How much the US minimum wage - and what it can get you - has changed since the year you were born

The federal minimum wage was raised to $0.30 an hour, effective October 24, 1939. It remained the same until October 24, 1945. Thirty cents in 1940 was equal to $5.51 in today's dollars.

In 1940, the median value of a single-family home in the US was $2,938 (equivalent to $53,927.83 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.18.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $0.40 an hour, effective October 24, 1945. It remained the same until January 25, 1950. Forty cents in 1945 is equal to $5.68 in today's dollars.

In 1950, the median value of a single-family home in the US was $7,354 (equivalent to $76,509.59 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.27.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $0.75 an hour, effective January 25, 1950. It remained the same until March 1, 1956. In today's dollars, $0.75 in 1954 is equal to $7.19.

In 1954, a gallon of gas cost $0.29. Home value data from the US Census isn't available for this time period.

Source: US Department of Labor, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $1.00 an hour, effective March 1, 1956. In today's dollars, that's equal to $9.55.

In 1960, the median value of a single-family home in the US was $11,900 (equivalent to $103,660.70 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.31.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $1.15 an hour, effective September 3, 1961. In today's dollars, that's equal to $9.85.

In 1963, the median sales price of newly-constructed homes sold in the US was $18,000 (equivalent to $151,656.79 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.31.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $1.25 an hour, effective September 3, 1963. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.43.

In 1965, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $20,000 (equivalent to $162,128.71 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.30.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $1.40 an hour, effective February 1, 1967. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.68.

In 1967, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $22,700 (equivalent to $173,095.25 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.32.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $1.60 an hour, effective February 1, 1968. In today's dollars, that's equal to $11.65.

In 1970, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $23,400 (equivalent to $173,095.25 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.35.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $2.00 an hour, effective May 1, 1974. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.49.

In 1974, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $35,900 (equivalent to $188,272.79 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.39.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $2.10 an hour, effective January 1, 1975. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.07.

In 1975, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $39,300 (equivalent to $188,415.64 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.53.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $2.30 an hour, effective January 1, 1976. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.41.

In 1976, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $44,200 (equivalent to $199,969.20 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.57.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $2.65 an hour, effective January 1, 1978. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.44.

In 1978, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $55,700 (equivalent to $219,531.47 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.62.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $2.90 an hour, effective January 1, 1979. In today's dollars, that's equal to $10.31.

In 1979, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $62,900 (equivalent to $223,563.83 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.63.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $3.10 an hour, effective January 1, 1980. In today's dollars, that's equal to $9.63.

In 1980, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $64,600 (equivalent to $200,731.81 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $0.86.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $3.35 an hour, effective January 1, 1981. It remained at that level for nearly a decade.

The value of $3.35 in 1981 was equal to the buying power of $9.50 today. The value of $3.35 by 1990 was just $6.73 in today's dollars.

In 1981, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $68,900 (equivalent to $201,427.86 in today's dollars) and a gallon of gas cost $1.19. In 1990, the median sales price of newly-constructed homes sold in the US was $122,900 (equivalent to $246,735.19 in today's dollars) and a gallon of gas cost $1.00.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $3.80 an hour, effective April 1, 1990. In today's dollars, that's equal to $7.42.

In 1991, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $120,000 (equivalent to $234,322.80 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $1.14.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $4.25 an hour, effective April 1, 1991. In today's dollars, that's equal to $8.00.

In 1994, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $130,000 (equivalent to $224,205.50 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $1.11.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $4.75 an hour, effective October 1, 1996. In today's dollars, that's equal to $7.70.

In 1996, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $140,000 (equivalent to $226,837.07 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $1.23.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $5.15 an hour, effective September 1, 1997. It remained at that level for nearly a decade.

The value of $5.15 in 1997 was equal to the buying power of $8.20 today. The value of $5.15 by 2007 had decreased to just $6.36 in today's dollars.

In 1997, the median sales price of newly-constructed homes sold in the US was $146,000 (equivalent to $232,598.91 in today's dollars) and a gallon of gas cost $1.23. In 2007, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $247,900 (equivalent to $306,343.64 in today's dollars) and a gallon of gas cost $2.80.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $5.85 an hour, effective July 4, 2007. In today's dollars, that's equal to $7.16.

In 2008, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $232,100 (equivalent to $277,640.97 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $3.27.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $6.55 an hour, effective July 24, 2008. In today's dollars, that's equal to $8.01.

In 2009, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US was $216,700 (equivalent to $261,143.62 in today's dollars). That year, a gallon of gas cost $2.35.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov

The federal minimum wage was raised to $7.25 an hour, effective July 24, 2009. It hasn't increased in over a decade. Meanwhile, the median sales price of newly constructed homes sold in the US reached an all-time high of $326,400 in 2018.

Source: US Department of Labor, US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development via FRED, Energy.gov