Number of workers in the U.S. paid less than the minimum wage 1979-2017
Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates below the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2017 (in 1,000s)
by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Sep 13, 2019
This statistic displays the number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates below the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2017. In 2017, total 1.28 million workers were paid hourly rates below the official minimum wage.
Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates below the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2017 (in 1,000s)
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| Number of workers in thousands | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1,282 |
| 2016 | 1,451 |
| 2015 | 1,691 |
| 2014 | 1,737 |
| 2013 | 1,768 |
| 2012 | 1,984 |
| 2011 | 2,152 |
| 2010 | 2,541 |
| 2009 | 2,592 |
| 2008 | 1,940 |
| 2007 | 1,462 |
| 2006 | 1,283 |
| 2005 | 1,403 |
| 2004 | 1,483 |
| 2003 | 1,555 |
| 2002 | 1,579 |
| 2001 | 1,518 |
| 2000 | 1,752 |
| 1999 | 2,194 |
| 1998 | 2,834 |
| 1997 | 2,990 |
| 1996 | 1,863 |
| 1995 | 1,699 |
| 1994 | 1,995 |
| 1993 | 1,707 |
| 1992 | 1,939 |
| 1991 | 2,377 |
| 1990 | 2,132 |
| 1989 | 1,372 |
| 1988 | 1,319 |
| 1987 | 1,468 |
| 1986 | 1,599 |
| 1985 | 1,639 |
| 1984 | 1,838 |
| 1983 | 2,077 |
| 1982 | 2,348 |
| 1981 | 3,513 |
| 1980 | 3,087 |
| 1979 | 2,916 |
| Number of workers in thousands | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1,282 |
| 2016 | 1,451 |
| 2015 | 1,691 |
| 2014 | 1,737 |
| 2013 | 1,768 |
| 2012 | 1,984 |
| 2011 | 2,152 |
| 2010 | 2,541 |
| 2009 | 2,592 |
| 2008 | 1,940 |
| 2007 | 1,462 |
| 2006 | 1,283 |
| 2005 | 1,403 |
| 2004 | 1,483 |
| 2003 | 1,555 |
| 2002 | 1,579 |
| 2001 | 1,518 |
| 2000 | 1,752 |
| 1999 | 2,194 |
| 1998 | 2,834 |
| 1997 | 2,990 |
| 1996 | 1,863 |
| 1995 | 1,699 |
| 1994 | 1,995 |
| 1993 | 1,707 |
| 1992 | 1,939 |
| 1991 | 2,377 |
| 1990 | 2,132 |
| 1989 | 1,372 |
| 1988 | 1,319 |
| 1987 | 1,468 |
| 1986 | 1,599 |
| 1985 | 1,639 |
| 1984 | 1,838 |
| 1983 | 2,077 |
| 1982 | 2,348 |
| 1981 | 3,513 |
| 1980 | 3,087 |
| 1979 | 2,916 |
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Sources: US Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics
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by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Sep 13, 2019
This statistic displays the number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates below the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2017. In 2017, total 1.28 million workers were paid hourly rates below the official minimum wage.
- Sources
- US Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Show further sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- August 2018
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1979 to 2017
- Age group
- 16 years and over
- 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. In 2017, the prevailing federal minimum wage was $7.25 per hour.
Free access to basic statistics
Source
- Sources
- US Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Show further sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- August 2018
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1979 to 2017
- Age group
- 16 years and over
- 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. In 2017, the prevailing federal minimum wage was $7.25 per hour.
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