What was the national minimum wage in 2014?

The National Minimum Wage as of January 1, 2014 was $7.25, according to the Department of Labor. When federal and state minimum wages differ, the higher rate applies.

Some jobs are exempt from the federal minimum wage, notes About.com. Those jobs include federal criminal investigators, workers with disabilities, switchboard operators, workers employed on small farms and employees who work with certain seasonal or recreational facilities. Any business that employs tipped workers is required to pay only $2.13 per hour, as of 2015, if the tips bring the workers' pay to at least the federal minimum wage and the workers retain the tips for themselves.