In 1979, about 3.99 million workers were paid hourly rates at the official minimum wage. In 2023, about 81,000 workers were paid hourly rates at the prevailing minimum wage. The prevailing Federal minimum wage was 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour in 2023.
Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023
(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.Â
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August 15, 2024). Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
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 2023 (in 1,000s)." Chart. August 15, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 14, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
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 2023 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Aug 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
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 2023 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited February 14, 2025)
Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/188199/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-minimum-wage-since-1979/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed