Here are five facts about the minimum wage and the people who earn it: Adjusted for inflation, the federal minimum wage peaked in 1968 at $8.54 (in 2014 dollars). Since it was last raised in 2009, to the current $7.25 per hour, the federal minimum has lost about 8.1% of its purchasing power to inflation.he Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. This rate must be paid to all nonexempt employees for each hour worked up to and including 40 hours in a calendar workweek.