In 1979, about 3.99 million workers were paid hourly rates at the official minimum wage. In 2020, about 247,000 workers were paid hourly rates at the prevailing minimum wage. The prevailing Federal minimum wage was 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour in 2020.
Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2020
(in 1,000s)
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. The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $7.25 per hour in 2020.
Wage and salary workers, excluding incorporated self employed
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (September 21, 2021). Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2020 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2020 (in 1,000s)." Chart. September 21, 2021. Statista. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021). Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2020 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 19, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of Wage and Salary Workers in The United States Paid Hourly Rates at The Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage from 1979 to 2020 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Sep 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2020 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/ (last visited August 19, 2022)
