In the United States, significantly more women are paid below the federal minimum wage than men. In 2023, approximately 241,000 male workers were working for a wage below the federal minimum, compared to 548,000 women paid below minimum wage.
Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Men
Women
2023
241
548
2022
286
595
2021
311
599
2020
258
607
2019
411
800
2018
464
812
2017
452
829
2016
499
952
2015
629
1,062
2014
598
1,139
2013
621
1,148
2012
696
1,288
2011
785
1,366
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000
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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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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August 15, 2024). Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s)." Chart. August 15, 2024. Statista. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 27, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of Workers Paid Hourly Rates below The Federal Minimum Wage in The United States from 1979 to 2023, by Gender (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Aug 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/ (last visited April 27, 2025)
Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s) [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
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