A Comparison of U.S. Wage Rates 1981 - 2011 NonFarm Wage Farm Wage Minimum Wage 81 7.44 3.77 3.35 82 7.87 4.00 3.35 83 8.20 4.11 3.35 84 8.49 4.16 3.35 85 8.74 4.42 3.35 86 8.93 4.70 3.35 87 9.14 4.87 3.35 88 9.44 5.02 3.35 89 9.80 5.36 3.35 90 10.20 5.52 3.80 91 10.52 5.57 4.25 92 10.77 6.06 4.25 93 11.05 6.25 4.25 94 11.34 6.39 4.25 95 11.65 6.54 4.25 96 12.04 6.78 4.75 97 12.51 7.35 5.15 98 13.01 7.47 5.15 99 13.49 7.77 5.15 00 14.02 8.10 5.15 01 14.54 8.45 5.15 02 14.97 8.81 5.15 03 15.37 9.09 5.15 04 15.69 9.23 5.15 05 16.13 9.51 5.15 06 16.76 9.87 5.15 07 17.43 10.23 5.85 08 18.08 10.60 6.55 09 18.63 10.83 7.25 10 19.07 10.95 7.25 11 19.42 11.07 7.25