<P> The minimum wage in the United States is set by US labor law and a range of state and local laws . Employers generally have to pay workers the highest minimum wage prescribed by federal, state, and local law . Since July 24, 2009, the federal government has mandated a nationwide minimum wage of $7.25 per hour . As of January 2018, there were 29 states with a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum . From 2017 to 2018, eight states increased their minimum wage levels through automatic adjustments, while increases in eleven other states occurred through referendum or legislative action . </P> <P> Using 2018 inflation - adjusted dollars, the federal minimum wage peaked at $11.77 per hour in 1968 . If the minimum wage in 1968 had kept up with labor's productivity growth, it would have reached $19.33 in 2017 . There is a racial difference in support for a higher minimum wage with most Black and Latino individuals supporting a $15.00 federal minimum wage, and 54% of Whites opposing it . In 2015, about 3% of White, Asian, and Latino workers earned the federal minimum wage or less . Amongst Black workers, the percentage was about 4% . </P>

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