Final answer:
Henry Ford is the innovator who paid his workers a $5 daily rate, facilitating the affordability of the automobiles they built and revolutionizing American society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The innovator who famously paid his employees a flat day rate of $5 was Henry Ford. In the context of the early 20th century, this wage was considered quite high, significantly above the typical $2-$3 daily rate for factory work of that era. Ford's payment strategy was a part of his larger vision for mass production at the Ford Motor Company. By paying his workers more, he not only reduced turnover and maintained a more stable workforce, but he also ensured that employees could afford to purchase the automobiles they were manufacturing, such as the famed Model T. This policy helped create a new consumer base for his products and played a role in transforming American society, as the automobile became more accessible to the general public.