U.S. workers paid minimum wage 1979-2023

Number of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at the prevailing Federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023

CharacteristicNumber of workers in thousands
2023 81
2022 141
2021 181
2020 247
2019 392
2018 434
2017 542
2016 701
2015 870
2014 1,255
2013 1,532
2012 1,566
2011 1,677
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of workers in thousands3,9973,9974,6864,6864,3114,3114,1484,1484,2614,2614,1254,1253,8993,8993,4613,4613,2293,2292,6082,6081,7901,7901,0961,0962,9062,9062,9822,9822,6252,6252,1322,1321,9561,9561,8611,8611,7641,7641,5931,5931,1461,1468988986566565675675455455205204794794094092672672862869809801,8201,8201,6771,6771,5661,5661,5321,5321,2551,2558708707017015425424344343923922472471811811411418181197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,000
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Release date

August 2024

Region

United States

Survey time period

1979 to 2023

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. 

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Minimum wage in the United States

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Statistics on " Minimum wage in the United States "

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Overview

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Characteristics of minimum wage workers

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Low wage employment

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