Minimum Wage Timeline By Pinbread 1831 Strike for minimum wage goes in France. Sends the course for minimum wage. 1894 New Zealand becomes the first country to enact minimum wage 1912 Massachusetts becomes the first state to have minimum wage Jun 25, 1938 Minimum Wage was introduced at 25 cents per hour 1949 Minimum Wage was increased to 75 cents 1963 President Kennedy signed the equal pay act 2009 The minimum wage is increased to 7.25 2023 30 states have increased the minimum wage above the federal level.