U.S. minimum wage workers 1980-2023, by gender

Share of workers paid hourly rates at or below prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1980 to 2023, by gender

CharacteristicWomenMen
1980 21.6% 9.7%
1981 21.3% 9.6%
1982 17.3% 8.6%
1983 16.4% 8.4%
1984 14.8% 7.5%
1985 13.2% 6.9%
1986 11.9% 5.9%
1987 10.5% 5.4%
1988 8.6% 4.4%
1989 6.7% 3.5%
1990 6.9% 3.4%
1991 10.9% 6%
1992 9.7% 5.9%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of workers9.7%9.7%9.6%9.6%8.6%8.6%8.4%8.4%7.5%7.5%6.9%6.9%5.9%5.9%5.4%5.4%4.4%4.4%3.5%3.5%3.4%3.4%6%6%5.9%5.9%5.1%5.1%4.7%4.7%3.9%3.9%3.9%3.9%5.1%5.1%4.7%4.7%3.4%3.4%2.5%2.5%2%2%2.2%2.2%2%2%1.8%1.8%1.7%1.7%1.5%1.5%1.4%1.4%1.9%1.9%3.9%3.9%4.5%4.5%3.9%3.9%3.4%3.4%3.3%3.3%2.9%2.9%2.5%2.5%1.9%1.9%1.7%1.7%1.6%1.6%1.3%1.3%1%1%1%1%0.8%0.8%0.7%0.7%21.6%21.6%21.3%21.3%17.3%17.3%16.4%16.4%14.8%14.8%13.2%13.2%11.9%11.9%10.5%10.5%8.6%8.6%6.7%6.7%6.9%6.9%10.9%10.9%9.7%9.7%8.4%8.4%7.8%7.8%6.8%6.8%6.8%6.8%8.3%8.3%7.7%7.7%5.9%5.9%4.8%4.8%3.9%3.9%3.7%3.7%3.8%3.8%3.6%3.6%3.3%3.3%2.9%2.9%3.1%3.1%3.9%3.9%5.9%5.9%7.3%7.3%6.4%6.4%6%6%5.4%5.4%4.8%4.8%4.1%4.1%3.4%3.4%2.8%2.8%2.6%2.6%2.6%2.6%2%2%1.7%1.7%1.8%1.8%1.5%1.5%WomenMen19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%
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Release date

May 2024

Region

United States

Survey time period

1980 to 2023

Age group

16 years and older

Supplementary notes

Data for 1990–91, 1996–97, and 2007–09 reflect changes in the minimum wage that took place in those years.

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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