A Comparison of U.S. Wage Rates
                       1981 - 2008


       NonFarm Wage     Farm Wage     Minimum Wage

81	   7.25	          3.77	          3.35
82	   7.68		  4.00		  3.35
83	   8.02		  4.11		  3.35
84	   8.32		  4.16		  3.35
85	   8.57		  4.42		  3.35
86	   8.76		  4.70		  3.35
87	   8.98		  4.87		  3.35
88	   9.28		  5.02		  3.35
89	   9.66		  5.36		  3.35
90	  10.01		  5.52		  3.80
91	  10.32		  5.57		  4.25
92	  10.57		  6.06		  4.25
93	  10.83		  6.25		  4.25
94	  11.12		  6.39		  4.25
95	  11.43		  6.54		  4.25
96	  11.82		  6.78		  4.75
97	  12.28		  7.35		  5.15
98	  12.78		  7.47		  5.15
99	  13.24		  7.77		  5.15
00	  13.76		  8.10		  5.15
01	  14.31		  8.45		  5.15
02	  14.77           8.81		  5.15
03	  15.38           9.09            5.15		
04        15.86           9.23            5.15
05        16.34           9.51            5.15
06        16.96           9.87            5.15
07	  17.54          10.23            5.85 
08        18.16		 10.59            6.55	
09	  18.55 	 10.82	          7.25