In 2009, Congress increased the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour, but it has not increased it since. Most states pay more than the federal minimum, of course, and the effective minimum wage (the average wage for all minimum-wage workers in the country) was $11.80 in 2019.

If the minimum wage of $7.25 passed in 2009 had been indexed to inflation, it would actually be $21.45 per hour today. So, if you earn less than this per hour, you are actually comparatively earning less per hour than a minimum-wage worker made in 2009. READ MORE