A Comparison of U.S. Wage Rates 1981 - 2007 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 10.21 5.85