In 1976, the average weekly wage for a man was around £70 a week - for women it was £45.30. This compares to £453.30 a week for men today, and £337.60 for women.
Data in current dollars and constant 1996 dollars
| Value of the minimum wage |
|---|
| Year | Current dollars | Constant (1996) dollars 1 |
|---|
| 1955 | $0.75 | $4.39 |
| 1956 | 1.00 | 5.77 |
| 1957 | 1.00 | 5.58 |
Pros of a Higher Minimum WageIncreased wages and spending raise demand and create more jobs. Workers stay with employers longer (instead of seeking out better-paying work with other companies) reducing businesses' turnover, hiring, and training costs. Lower unemployment and higher wages increase tax revenues.
Since the first federal minimum wage was set in 1938, it has been raised 22 times by 12 different presidents. The history of the federal minimum wage is one of political struggle and labor conflict, and it actually begins in Europe, at least a century before the law was passed in the United States.
As indicated in the advance report on income, the 1975 median family income of $13,720 represented an increase of 6 percent over the revised 1974 median.
Chart 1a Average hourly earnings by source and minimum wage
| Year | SEPH—Manufacturing | Minimum wage |
|---|
| 1976 | 23.2 | 11.28 |
| 1977 | 23.8 | 10.95 |
| 1978 | 23.4 | 10.39 |
| 1979 | 23.3 | 9.99 |
The initial hourly rates would be 85 cents for women, $1 for most males, and $1.25 for construction workers.
Effective as of June 1, 2020. The minimum wage in B.C. will rise to at least $15.20 on June 1, 2021. View more information.
For the country as a whole, the average (median) income of families in 1960 was $5,600; but, for families headed by persons 65 years and over, the average was only $2,900, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.
Indexing yearly income
| Year | Wage Index |
|---|
| 1967 | $5,213.44 |
| 1970 | $6,186.24 |
| 1973 | $7,580.16 |
| 1976 | $9,226.48 |
In the year 1972, the United States minimum wage was $1.60. This is equivalent to $10.00 in 2020 dollars.
In 1970, minimum wage was $1.60 an hour. Today, it's $7.25 an hour. That's a 353% increase over that period of time, which seems like a fair amount…
The median money income of households in the United States rose to $13,570 in 1977, a 7-percent increase from the 1976 median of $12,690.
| School year | Current dollars | Average public school teachers' salary in constant 2007-08 dollars2 |
|---|
| Average public school teachers' salary |
|---|
| 1967-68 | 7,423 | 44,870 |
| 1969-70 | 8,626 | 47,143 |
| 1970-71 | 9,268 | 48,075 |
As of January 2020, the average Canadian salary in 2020 was $1,050.59 per week for employees across the country – which means that the annual average salary for full-time employees is just over $54,630 per year.
As of January 2019, the average wage for Canadian employees across the nation was $1,011.62 per week – which works out to just over $52,600 per year. The overall trend is positive, with the majority of Canadians making more money than in the previous year.
Average household income, by income group, 1967–2010 (2011 dollars)
| Income fifth |
|---|
| Bottom | Middle |
|---|
| 1967 | $9,420 | $41,668 |
| 1979 | 11,566 | 47,432 |
| 1989 | 12,249 | 50,658 |
Median Annual Income, by Level of Education, 1990–2010
| Sex & Year | Elementary/Secondary |
|---|
| Less than 9th grade | High school completion (includes equivalency) 2 |
|---|
| 1990 | $17,394 | $26,653 |
| 1991 | 17,623 | 26,779 |
| 1992 | 17,294 | 27,280 |
