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Published by Statista Research Department, Jul 5, 2024
In 2022, 1.3 percent of workers in the United States were paid hourly rates at or below the official minimum wage. This is a decrease from the previous year, when 1.4 percent of workers were paid at or below the official minimum wage.
Share of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2022
| Characteristic | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.3% |
| 2021 | 1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.5% |
| 2019 | 1.9% |
| 2018 | 2.1% |
| 2017 | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.3% |
| 2014 | 3.9% |
| 2013 | 4.3% |
| 2012 | 4.7% |
| 2011 | 5.2% |
| 2010 | 6% |
| 2009 | 4.9% |
| 2008 | 3% |
| 2007 | 2.3% |
| 2006 | 2.2% |
| 2005 | 2.5% |
| 2004 | 2.7% |
| 2003 | 2.9% |
| 2002 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3% |
| 2000 | 3.6% |
| 1999 | 4.6% |
| 1998 | 6.2% |
| 1997 | 6.7% |
| 1996 | 5.4% |
| 1995 | 5.3% |
| 1994 | 6.2% |
| 1993 | 6.7% |
| 1992 | 7.7% |
| 1991 | 8.4% |
| 1990 | 5.1% |
| 1989 | 5.1% |
| 1988 | 6.5% |
| 1987 | 7.9% |
| 1986 | 8.8% |
| 1985 | 9.9% |
| 1984 | 11% |
| 1983 | 12.2% |
| 1982 | 12.8% |
| 1981 | 15.1% |
| 1980 | 15.1% |
| 1979 | 13.4% |
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Source
Release date
January 2024
More information
Region
United States
Survey time period
1979 to 2022
Age group
16 years and older
Supplementary notes
The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10 in 1980, and $3.35 in 1981–89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April 1990, to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, to $5.15 in September 1997, to $5.85 in July 2007, to $6.55 in July 2008, and to $7.25 in July 2009.
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