Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Department of Labor
March 2, 2012
In 2011, 73.9 million American workers age 16 and over were paid at hourly rates, representing 59.1 percent of all
wage and salary workers.1 Among those paid by the hour, 1.7 million earned exactly the prevailing Federal minimum
wage of $7.25 per hour. About 2.2 million had wages below the minimum.2 Together, these 3.8 million workers with
wages at or below the Federal minimum made up 5.2 percent of all hourly-paid workers. Tables 1 through 10 present
data on a wide array of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics for hourly-paid workers earning at or below
the Federal minimum wage. The following are some highlights from the 2011 data.
-- Minimum wage workers tend to be young. Although workers under age 25 represented only about one-fifth of
hourly-paid workers, they made up about half of those paid the Federal minimum wage or less. Among employed
teenagers paid by the hour, about 23 percent earned the minimum wage or less, compared with about 3 percent of
workers age 25 and over. (See table 1 and table 7.)
-- About 6 percent of women paid hourly rates had wages at or below the prevailing Federal minimum, compared with
about 4 percent of men. (See table 1.)
-- About 5 percent of White hourly-paid workers earned the Federal minimum wage or less, compared with about 6
percent of Blacks and about 3 percent of Asians. Among hourly-paid workers of Hispanic ethnicity, about 5 percent
earned the minimum wage or less. (See table 1.)
-- Among hourly-paid workers age 16 and over, about 11 percent of those who had less than a high school diploma
earned the Federal minimum wage or less, compared with about 5 percent of those who had a high school diploma
(with no college) and about 2 percent of college graduates. (See table 6.)
-- Never-married workers, who tend to be young, were more likely than married workers to earn the Federal minimum
wage or less (about 9 percent versus about 2 percent). (See table 8.)
-- Part-time workers (persons who usually work less than 35 hours per week) were more likely than full-time workers
to be paid the Federal minimum wage or less (about 13 percent versus about 2 percent). (See table 1 and table 9.)
-- By major occupational group, the highest proportion of hourly-paid workers earning at or below the Federal
minimum wage was in service occupations, at 13 percent. About 6 in 10 workers earning the minimum wage or less
in 2011 were employed in service occupations, mostly in food preparation and serving related jobs. (See table 4.)
-- The industry with the highest proportion of workers with hourly wages at or below the Federal minimum wage was
leisure and hospitality (22 percent). About one-half of all workers paid at or below the Federal minimum wage were
employed in this industry, primarily in restaurants and other food services. For many of these workers, tips and
commissions supplement the hourly wages received. (See table 5.)
-- The states with the highest proportions of hourly-paid workers earning at or below the Federal minimum wage were
Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas (all between 8 and 10 percent). The states with the lowest percentage of workers
earning at or below the Federal minimum wage were Oregon, California, Washington, and Alaska (all under 2
percent). It should be noted that some states have minimum wage laws establishing standards that exceed the
Federal minimum wage. (See table 2 and table 3.)
-- The proportion of hourly-paid workers earning the prevailing Federal minimum wage or less declined from 6.0
percent in 2010 to 5.2 percent in 2011. This remains well below the figure of 13.4 percent in 1979, when data were
first collected on a regular basis. (See table 10.)
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These data on minimum wage earners are
derived from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly nationwide sample survey of households. Data in this
summary are 2011 annual averages.
1
Data are for wage and salary workers age 16 and over and refer to earnings on a person's sole or principal job. Hourly earnings for
hourly-paid workers do not include overtime pay, commissions, or tips received. All self-employed persons are excluded whether or
not their businesses are incorporated.
2
The presence of a sizable number of workers with wages below the Federal minimum does not necessarily indicate violations of
the Fair Labor Standards Act, as there are exemptions to the minimum wage provisions of the law. The estimates of the numbers of
minimum and subminimum wage workers presented in the accompanying tables pertain to workers paid at hourly rates; salaried
and other non-hourly workers are excluded. As such, the actual number of workers with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal
minimum is undoubtedly understated. Research has shown that a relatively small number and share of salaried workers and others
not paid by the hour have earnings that, when translated into hourly rates, are at or below the minimum wage. However, BLS does
not routinely estimate hourly earnings for non-hourly workers because of data concerns that arise in producing these estimates.
Table 1. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
selected characteristics, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Characteristic
Total paid
hourly
rates
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Total
Total paid
At
Below
hourly
minimum minimum
rates
wage
wage
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over……………..
16 to 24 years…………………………
16 to 19 years………………………
25 years and over………...…………
73,926
14,436
3,936
59,490
3,829
1,896
899
1,933
1,677
893
491
784
2,152
1,003
408
1,149
100.0
19.5
5.3
80.5
100.0
49.5
23.5
50.5
100.0
53.2
29.3
46.8
100.0
46.6
19.0
53.4
5.2
13.1
22.8
3.2
2.3
6.2
12.5
1.3
2.9
6.9
10.4
1.9
Men, 16 years and over……………..
16 to 24 years………..………………
16 to 19 years………………………
25 years and over…………………..
36,457
7,290
1,872
29,167
1,433
787
373
647
648
388
212
260
785
399
161
387
49.3
9.9
2.5
39.5
37.4
20.6
9.7
16.9
38.6
23.1
12.6
15.5
36.5
18.5
7.5
18.0
3.9
10.8
19.9
2.2
1.8
5.3
11.3
0.9
2.2
5.5
8.6
1.3
Women, 16 years and over…………
16 to 24 years……………..…………
16 to 19 years………………………
25 years and over…………..……….
37,469
7,147
2,064
30,323
2,395
1,109
526
1,286
1,029
505
279
524
1,366
604
247
762
50.7
9.7
2.8
41.0
62.5
29.0
13.7
33.6
61.4
30.1
16.6
31.2
63.5
28.1
11.5
35.4
6.4
15.5
25.5
4.2
2.7
7.1
13.5
1.7
3.6
8.5
12.0
2.5
White ¹…………………………………
Men………………...………………….
Women…………..……………………
59,314
29,743
29,571
3,006
1,108
1,898
1,258
484
774
1,748
624
1,124
80.2
40.2
40.0
78.5
28.9
49.6
75.0
28.9
46.2
81.2
29.0
52.2
5.1
3.7
6.4
2.1
1.6
2.6
2.9
2.1
3.8
Black or African American ¹……………
Men………………...………………….
Women…………..……………………
9,523
4,252
5,271
577
222
356
324
117
208
253
105
148
12.9
5.8
7.1
15.1
5.8
9.3
19.3
7.0
12.4
11.8
4.9
6.9
6.1
5.2
6.8
3.4
2.8
3.9
2.7
2.5
2.8
Asian ¹……………….…………………
Men………………...………………….
Women…………..……………………
3,037
1,425
1,612
99
41
58
36
13
23
63
28
35
4.1
1.9
2.2
2.6
1.1
1.5
2.1
0.8
1.4
2.9
1.3
1.6
3.3
2.9
3.6
1.2
0.9
1.4
2.1
2.0
2.2
Hispanic or Latino ¹…………………..
Men………………...………………….
Women…………..……………………
13,264
7,703
5,561
720
326
394
340
154
186
380
172
208
17.9
10.4
7.5
18.8
8.5
10.3
20.3
9.2
11.1
17.7
8.0
9.7
5.4
4.2
7.1
2.6
2.0
3.3
2.9
2.2
3.7
Full-time workers ²…………………….
Men………………...………………….
Women…………..……………………
53,594
29,292
24,302
1,274
501
773
522
205
317
752
296
456
72.5
39.6
32.9
33.3
13.1
20.2
31.1
12.2
18.9
34.9
13.8
21.2
2.4
1.7
3.2
1.0
0.7
1.3
1.4
1.0
1.9
Part-time workers ²……………………
Men………………...………………….
Women…………..……………………
20,199
7,103
13,096
2,545
932
1,615
1,153
443
711
1,392
489
904
27.3
9.6
17.7
66.5
24.3
42.2
68.8
26.4
42.4
64.7
22.7
42.0
12.6
13.1
12.3
5.7
6.2
5.4
6.9
6.9
6.9
RACE, SEX, AND
HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
FULL- AND PART-TIME
STATUS AND SEX
¹ Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
² The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because full- or part-time status
on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple jobholders. Full time is 35 hours or more per week; part time is less than 35 hours.
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Table 2. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
census region and division, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Region and division
Total, 16 years and over….
Total paid
hourly
rates
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Total
Total paid
At
Below
hourly
minimum minimum
rates
wage
wage
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
73,926
3,829
1,677
2,152
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.2
2.3
2.9
Northeast…………….……… 12,755
New England……….……… 3,629
Middle Atlantic…...………
9,126
619
128
490
255
26
228
364
102
262
17.3
4.9
12.3
16.2
3.3
12.8
15.2
1.6
13.6
16.9
4.7
12.2
4.9
3.5
5.4
2.0
0.7
2.5
2.9
2.8
2.9
Midwest………….…………
East North Central…...….
West North Central…...…
18,135
12,311
5,823
910
562
349
354
171
183
556
391
166
24.5
16.7
7.9
23.8
14.7
9.1
21.1
10.2
10.9
25.8
18.2
7.7
5.0
4.6
6.0
2.0
1.4
3.1
3.1
3.2
2.9
South………...……………… 25,652
South Atlantic…...……….
12,806
East South Central...…….
4,365
West South Central…...…
8,481
1,845
895
297
654
912
393
158
362
933
502
139
292
34.7
17.3
5.9
11.5
48.2
23.4
7.8
17.1
54.4
23.4
9.4
21.6
43.4
23.3
6.5
13.6
7.2
7.0
6.8
7.7
3.6
3.1
3.6
4.3
3.6
3.9
3.2
3.4
454
252
203
156
83
73
298
169
130
23.5
7.4
16.1
11.9
6.6
5.3
9.3
4.9
4.4
13.8
7.9
6.0
2.6
4.6
1.7
0.9
1.5
0.6
1.7
3.1
1.1
West…………………...……
Mountain………..…………
Pacific…………..…………
17,385
5,450
11,935
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
The four major regions and nine census divisions of the United States are as follows:
Northeast:
New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
Midwest:
East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin
West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota
South:
South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee
West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
West:
Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington
Table 3. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
State, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
State
Total paid
hourly
rates
Percent distribution
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
Total paid
hourly
rates
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
Total, 16 years and over..
73,926
3,829
1,677
2,152
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.2
2.3
2.9
Alabama…………..………
Alaska………..……………
Arizona…………..…………
Arkansas…………..………
California………..…………
Colorado………..…………
Connecticut……..…………
Delaware…………..………
District of Columbia…..….
Florida………………..……
Georgia………..……………
Hawaii………..……………
Idaho…………..……………
1,147
212
1,517
746
8,706
1,222
870
213
94
3,891
2,041
321
379
74
4
85
49
139
49
25
11
4
246
196
15
19
43
1
20
33
53
9
4
3
1
73
105
8
12
31
3
65
16
86
40
21
8
3
173
91
7
7
1.6
0.3
2.1
1.0
11.8
1.7
1.2
0.3
0.1
5.3
2.8
0.4
0.5
1.9
0.1
2.2
1.3
3.6
1.3
0.7
0.3
0.1
6.4
5.1
0.4
0.5
2.6
0.1
1.2
2.0
3.2
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.1
4.4
6.3
0.5
0.7
1.4
0.1
3.0
0.7
4.0
1.9
1.0
0.4
0.1
8.0
4.2
0.3
0.3
6.5
1.9
5.6
6.6
1.6
4.0
2.9
5.2
4.3
6.3
9.6
4.7
5.0
3.7
0.5
1.3
4.4
0.6
0.7
0.5
1.4
1.1
1.9
5.1
2.5
3.2
2.7
1.4
4.3
2.1
1.0
3.3
2.4
3.8
3.2
4.4
4.5
2.2
1.8
Illinois………..……..………
Indiana…………..…………
Iowa……………..…………
Kansas…………..…………
Kentucky………..…………
Louisiana………………….
Maine………..…………….
Maryland…………..………
Massachusetts…..……….
Michigan…………..………
Minnesota………..…………
Mississippi…………..…….
Missouri……………..…….
3,095
1,730
941
802
1,077
1,011
381
1,274
1,539
2,550
1,544
686
1,543
109
108
53
56
63
75
14
65
60
117
78
58
109
29
54
28
27
30
33
3
27
11
29
47
37
54
80
54
25
29
33
42
11
38
49
88
31
21
55
4.2
2.3
1.3
1.1
1.5
1.4
0.5
1.7
2.1
3.4
2.1
0.9
2.1
2.8
2.8
1.4
1.5
1.6
2.0
0.4
1.7
1.6
3.1
2.0
1.5
2.8
1.7
3.2
1.7
1.6
1.8
2.0
0.2
1.6
0.7
1.7
2.8
2.2
3.2
3.7
2.5
1.2
1.3
1.5
2.0
0.5
1.8
2.3
4.1
1.4
1.0
2.6
3.5
6.2
5.6
7.0
5.8
7.4
3.7
5.1
3.9
4.6
5.1
8.5
7.1
0.9
3.1
3.0
3.4
2.8
3.3
0.8
2.1
0.7
1.1
3.0
5.4
3.5
2.6
3.1
2.7
3.6
3.1
4.2
2.9
3.0
3.2
3.5
2.0
3.1
3.6
Montana……………..…….
Nebraska………..……..……
Nevada………..……………
New Hampshire………..…
New Jersey………..………
New Mexico……….....……
New York……………..……
North Carolina………..……
North Dakota……..……….
Ohio…………..……………
Oklahoma…………..………
Oregon…………..…………
Pennsylvania…..…………
271
532
670
368
1,795
459
3,930
2,055
208
3,224
828
1,010
3,400
10
29
22
14
99
20
199
140
11
150
56
12
193
6
15
9
4
41
6
91
65
6
27
36
4
97
4
14
13
10
58
14
108
75
5
123
20
8
96
0.4
0.7
0.9
0.5
2.4
0.6
5.3
2.8
0.3
4.4
1.1
1.4
4.6
0.3
0.8
0.6
0.4
2.6
0.5
5.2
3.7
0.3
3.9
1.5
0.3
5.0
0.4
0.9
0.5
0.2
2.4
0.4
5.4
3.9
0.4
1.6
2.1
0.2
5.8
0.2
0.7
0.6
0.5
2.7
0.7
5.0
3.5
0.2
5.7
0.9
0.4
4.5
3.7
5.5
3.3
3.8
5.5
4.4
5.1
6.8
5.3
4.7
6.8
1.2
5.7
2.2
2.8
1.3
1.1
2.3
1.3
2.3
3.2
2.9
0.8
4.3
0.4
2.9
1.5
2.6
1.9
2.7
3.2
3.1
2.7
3.6
2.4
3.8
2.4
0.8
2.8
Rhode Island………..…….
South Carolina…..…………
South Dakota………..……
Tennessee………..………
Texas………..…………….
Utah………..………………
Vermont……..…………….
Virginia………..……………
Washington…………..……
West Virginia……..……….
Wisconsin………..………..
Wyoming…..………………
289
1,078
253
1,455
5,896
765
182
1,697
1,686
462
1,711
167
11
79
13
101
473
35
4
121
31
34
78
10
3
42
7
48
259
15
1
57
6
20
32
5
8
37
6
53
214
20
3
64
25
14
46
5
0.4
1.5
0.3
2.0
8.0
1.0
0.2
2.3
2.3
0.6
2.3
0.2
0.3
2.1
0.3
2.6
12.4
0.9
0.1
3.2
0.8
0.9
2.0
0.3
0.2
2.5
0.4
2.9
15.4
0.9
0.1
3.4
0.4
1.2
1.9
0.3
0.4
1.7
0.3
2.5
9.9
0.9
0.1
3.0
1.2
0.7
2.1
0.2
3.8
7.3
5.1
6.9
8.0
4.6
2.2
7.1
1.8
7.4
4.6
6.0
1.0
3.9
2.8
3.3
4.4
2.0
0.5
3.4
0.4
4.3
1.9
3.0
2.8
3.4
2.4
3.6
3.6
2.6
1.6
3.8
1.5
3.0
2.7
3.0
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Users are reminded that these data are based on a
sample and therefore are subject to sampling error; the degree of error may be quite large for less populous States. It is not possible to determine
whether workers surveyed in the CPS are actually covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or by individual State minimum wage laws. Thus,
some workers reported as earning the prevailing Federal minimum wage may not in fact be covered by Federal or State minimum wage laws. Also,
there are a number of States that have minimum wages that exceed the Federal minimum wage. At the same time, the presence of a sizable number of
workers with wages below the prevailing Federal minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of the FLSA or applicable State laws, because
there are numerous exclusions and exemptions to these minimum wage statutes. Hourly earnings do not include overtime pay, commissions, or tips.
Table 4. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
occupation, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Occupation
Total paid
hourly
rates
Total, 16 years and over……….……………
73,926
At or below minimum wage
Total
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
Total paid
hourly
rates
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
3,829
1,677
2,152
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.2
2.3
2.9
195
89
106
21.0
5.1
5.3
4.9
1.3
0.6
0.7
48
147
11
78
37
69
5.8
15.2
1.3
3.8
0.7
4.7
1.7
3.2
1.1
1.3
0.3
0.7
0.9
0.6
Service occupations……..….....……………
17,800
Healthcare support occupations………..… 2,700
Protective service occupations……...…..
2,028
Food preparation and serving related
occupations………...……..…..………..
6,710
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance occupations………………
3,618
Personal care and service occupations..
2,745
2,322
98
61
742
52
22
1,580
46
39
24.1
3.7
2.7
60.6
2.6
1.6
44.2
3.1
1.3
73.4
2.1
1.8
13.0
3.6
3.0
4.2
1.9
1.1
8.9
1.7
1.9
1,653
422
1,231
9.1
43.2
25.2
57.2
24.6
6.3
18.3
211
299
111
135
100
164
4.9
3.7
5.5
7.8
6.6
8.1
4.6
7.6
5.8
10.9
3.1
4.9
2.8
6.0
Sales and office occupations………….…… 19,987
Sales and related occupations………….… 7,813
Office and administrative support
occupations………………...…………… 12,174
856
600
617
441
239
159
27.0
10.6
22.4
15.7
36.8
26.3
11.1
7.4
4.3
7.7
3.1
5.6
1.2
2.0
257
177
80
16.5
6.7
10.6
3.7
2.1
1.5
0.7
8,221
96
48
48
11.1
2.5
2.9
2.2
1.2
0.6
0.6
675
42
24
18
0.9
1.1
1.4
0.8
6.2
3.6
2.7
4,332
28
13
15
5.9
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.3
0.3
3,214
26
11
15
4.3
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.3
0.5
12,394
6,485
360
100
181
53
179
47
16.8
8.8
9.4
2.6
10.8
3.2
8.3
2.2
2.9
1.5
1.5
0.8
1.4
0.7
5,909
260
128
132
8.0
6.8
7.6
6.1
4.4
2.2
2.2
Management, professional, and related
occupations……………….……………… 15,524
Management, business, and financial
operations occupations…………….……
4,300
Professional and related occupations…… 11,224
Natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations……….…….
Farming, fishing, and forestry
occupations………..……………..……..
Construction and extraction
occupations……………....……………..
Installation, maintenance, and
repair occupations……………….........…
Production, transportation, and
material moving occupations……...…..
Production occupations……...…………..
Transportation and material moving
occupations……………….…...….…….
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Effective with January 2011 data, occupations
reflect the introduction of the 2010 Census occupational classification system into the Current Population Survey, or household survey. This classification
system is derived from the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No historical data have been revised. Data for 2011 are not strictly
comparable with earlier years.
Table 5. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
industry, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Industry
Total paid
hourly
rates
Total, 16 years and over……………………..
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
Total paid
hourly
rates
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
73,926
3,829
1,677
2,152
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.2
2.3
2.9
Private sector…………………………………
Agriculture and related industries…………
Nonagricultural industries………..………
Mining……………………...………………
Construction………..……………………
Manufacturing………………...…………
Durable goods …………………………
Nondurable goods ……………………
Wholesale and retail trade……………..
Wholesale trade…………..…...……..
Retail trade…………...……………….
Transportation and utilities…...………..
Information……………..….…………….
Financial activities………………………
Professional and business services……
Education and health services…………
Leisure and hospitality……………………
Other services……………………………
64,525
775
63,750
489
4,304
8,556
5,264
3,292
12,423
1,689
10,734
3,069
1,273
3,228
5,857
12,636
8,943
2,970
3,625
41
3,584
3
41
91
41
50
669
27
642
46
36
40
157
355
1,963
183
1,577
20
1,557
2
15
47
18
29
463
17
446
22
18
25
85
185
610
86
2,048
21
2,027
1
26
44
23
21
206
10
196
24
18
15
72
170
1,353
97
87.3
1.0
86.2
0.7
5.8
11.6
7.1
4.5
16.8
2.3
14.5
4.2
1.7
4.4
7.9
17.1
12.1
4.0
94.7
1.1
93.6
0.1
1.1
2.4
1.1
1.3
17.5
0.7
16.8
1.2
0.9
1.0
4.1
9.3
51.3
4.8
94.0
1.2
92.8
0.1
0.9
2.8
1.1
1.7
27.6
1.0
26.6
1.3
1.1
1.5
5.1
11.0
36.4
5.1
95.2
1.0
94.2
0.0
1.2
2.0
1.1
1.0
9.6
0.5
9.1
1.1
0.8
0.7
3.3
7.9
62.9
4.5
5.6
5.3
5.6
0.6
1.0
1.1
0.8
1.5
5.4
1.6
6.0
1.5
2.8
1.2
2.7
2.8
22.0
6.2
2.4
2.6
2.4
0.4
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.9
3.7
1.0
4.2
0.7
1.4
0.8
1.5
1.5
6.8
2.9
3.2
2.7
3.2
0.2
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.6
1.7
0.6
1.8
0.8
1.4
0.5
1.2
1.3
15.1
3.3
Public sector…………………………………
Federal…………………………………….
State…………………………………………
Local…………………………………………
9,401
1,770
2,604
5,026
204
20
65
119
100
12
37
50
104
8
28
69
12.7
2.4
3.5
6.8
5.3
0.5
1.7
3.1
6.0
0.7
2.2
3.0
4.8
0.4
1.3
3.2
2.2
1.1
2.5
2.4
1.1
0.7
1.4
1.0
1.1
0.5
1.1
1.4
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Table 6. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
educational attainment, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Educational attainment
Total paid
hourly
rates
Total, 16 years and over………………………
Less than a high school diploma……………
Less than 1 year of high school………….
1 to 3 years of high school…………………
4 years of high school, no diploma………
High school graduates or more…………….
High school graduates, no college………
Some college or associate degree……..
Some college, no degree………………
Associate degree…………………………
Occupational program…………………
Academic program……………………
Bachelor's degree and higher……………
Bachelor's degree………………………
Master's degree…………………………
Professional degree……………………
Doctoral degree…………………………
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
Total paid
hourly
rates
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Below
At
minimum minimum
wage
wage
73,926
3,829
1,677
2,152
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.2
2.3
2.9
9,562
2,794
5,631
1,137
64,364
25,710
25,858
17,178
8,680
4,021
4,659
12,796
9,984
2,230
293
289
1,061
182
773
106
2,767
1,179
1,309
1,057
253
93
158
279
248
24
6
1
582
95
427
60
1,094
532
500
422
79
35
43
62
55
6
–
1
479
87
346
46
1,673
647
809
635
174
58
115
217
193
18
6
–
12.9
3.8
7.6
1.5
87.1
34.8
35.0
23.2
11.7
5.4
6.3
17.3
13.5
3.0
0.4
0.4
27.7
4.8
20.2
2.8
72.3
30.8
34.2
27.6
6.6
2.4
4.1
7.3
6.5
0.6
0.2
0.0
34.7
5.7
25.5
3.6
65.2
31.7
29.8
25.2
4.7
2.1
2.6
3.7
3.3
0.4
–
0.1
22.3
4.0
16.1
2.1
77.7
30.1
37.6
29.5
8.1
2.7
5.3
10.1
9.0
0.8
0.3
–
11.1
6.5
13.7
9.3
4.3
4.6
5.1
6.2
2.9
2.3
3.4
2.2
2.5
1.1
2.0
0.3
6.1
3.4
7.6
5.3
1.7
2.1
1.9
2.5
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.5
0.6
0.3
–
0.3
5.0
3.1
6.1
4.0
2.6
2.5
3.1
3.7
2.0
1.4
2.5
1.7
1.9
0.8
2.0
–
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Dash indicates no data or data that do not meet
publication criteria.
Table 7. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
age and sex, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Age and sex
Total paid
hourly
rates
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Total
Total paid
At
Below
hourly
minimum minimum
rates
wage
wage
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
BOTH SEXES
Total, 16 years and over……
Under 25 years………………
16 to 19 years………………
20 to 24 years………………
25 years and over……………
25 to 34 years………………
25 to 29 years……………
30 to 34 years……………
35 to 44 years………………
35 to 39 years……………
40 to 44 years……………
45 to 54 years………………
45 to 49 years……………
50 to 54 years……………
55 to 64 years………………
55 to 59 years……………
60 to 64 years……………
65 years and over…………
65 to 69 years……………
70 years and over………
73,926
14,436
3,936
10,501
59,490
17,155
9,229
7,926
14,168
6,889
7,279
15,331
7,793
7,537
10,046
6,135
3,911
2,790
1,569
1,220
3,829
1,896
899
997
1,933
808
460
348
399
205
194
382
208
175
221
123
98
123
68
55
1,677
893
491
402
784
299
170
129
161
75
86
159
82
78
117
66
51
48
27
21
2,152
1,003
408
595
1,149
509
290
219
238
130
108
223
126
97
104
57
47
75
41
34
100.0
19.5
5.3
14.2
80.5
23.2
12.5
10.7
19.2
9.3
9.8
20.7
10.5
10.2
13.6
8.3
5.3
3.8
2.1
1.7
100.0
49.5
23.5
26.0
50.5
21.1
12.0
9.1
10.4
5.4
5.1
10.0
5.4
4.6
5.8
3.2
2.6
3.2
1.8
1.4
100.0
53.2
29.3
24.0
46.8
17.8
10.1
7.7
9.6
4.5
5.1
9.5
4.9
4.7
7.0
3.9
3.0
2.9
1.6
1.3
100.0
46.6
19.0
27.6
53.4
23.7
13.5
10.2
11.1
6.0
5.0
10.4
5.9
4.5
4.8
2.6
2.2
3.5
1.9
1.6
5.2
13.1
22.8
9.5
3.2
4.7
5.0
4.4
2.8
3.0
2.7
2.5
2.7
2.3
2.2
2.0
2.5
4.4
4.3
4.5
2.3
6.2
12.5
3.8
1.3
1.7
1.8
1.6
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.7
1.7
1.7
2.9
6.9
10.4
5.7
1.9
3.0
3.1
2.8
1.7
1.9
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.3
1.0
0.9
1.2
2.7
2.6
2.8
Total, 16 years and over…… 36,457
Under 25 years……………… 7,290
16 to 19 years……………… 1,872
20 to 24 years……………… 5,418
25 years and over…………… 29,167
25 to 34 years……………… 9,132
4,893
25 to 29 years……………
4,238
30 to 34 years……………
35 to 44 years……………… 7,036
3,471
35 to 39 years……………
3,565
40 to 44 years……………
45 to 54 years……………… 7,167
3,689
45 to 49 years……………
3,477
50 to 54 years……………
55 to 64 years……………… 4,491
2,814
55 to 59 years……………
1,677
60 to 64 years……………
1,341
65 years and over…………
754
65 to 69 years……………
70 years and over………
587
1,433
787
373
413
647
278
157
122
142
74
67
113
61
51
72
42
30
42
21
22
648
388
212
175
260
96
53
43
56
26
30
55
30
24
36
23
13
17
10
7
785
399
161
238
387
182
104
79
86
48
37
58
31
27
36
19
17
25
11
15
49.3
9.9
2.5
7.3
39.5
12.4
6.6
5.7
9.5
4.7
4.8
9.7
5.0
4.7
6.1
3.8
2.3
1.8
1.0
0.8
37.4
20.6
9.7
10.8
16.9
7.3
4.1
3.2
3.7
1.9
1.7
3.0
1.6
1.3
1.9
1.1
0.8
1.1
0.5
0.6
38.6
23.1
12.6
10.4
15.5
5.7
3.2
2.6
3.3
1.6
1.8
3.3
1.8
1.4
2.1
1.4
0.8
1.0
0.6
0.4
36.5
18.5
7.5
11.1
18.0
8.5
4.8
3.7
4.0
2.2
1.7
2.7
1.4
1.3
1.7
0.9
0.8
1.2
0.5
0.7
3.9
10.8
19.9
7.6
2.2
3.0
3.2
2.9
2.0
2.1
1.9
1.6
1.7
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.8
3.1
2.8
3.7
1.8
5.3
11.3
3.2
0.9
1.1
1.1
1.0
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
1.3
1.3
1.2
2.2
5.5
8.6
4.4
1.3
2.0
2.1
1.9
1.2
1.4
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
1.0
1.9
1.5
2.6
2,395
1,109
526
583
1,286
528
303
225
257
131
126
270
146
123
150
80
68
81
46
33
1,029
505
279
226
524
202
117
85
105
49
56
105
51
53
81
42
38
31
16
14
1,366
604
247
357
762
326
186
140
152
82
70
165
95
70
69
38
30
50
30
19
50.7
9.7
2.8
6.9
41.0
10.9
5.9
5.0
9.6
4.6
5.0
11.0
5.6
5.5
7.5
4.5
3.0
2.0
1.1
0.9
62.5
29.0
13.7
15.2
33.6
13.8
7.9
5.9
6.7
3.4
3.3
7.1
3.8
3.2
3.9
2.1
1.8
2.1
1.2
0.9
61.4
30.1
16.6
13.5
31.2
12.0
7.0
5.1
6.3
2.9
3.3
6.3
3.0
3.2
4.8
2.5
2.3
1.8
1.0
0.8
63.5
28.1
11.5
16.6
35.4
15.1
8.6
6.5
7.1
3.8
3.3
7.7
4.4
3.3
3.2
1.8
1.4
2.3
1.4
0.9
6.4
15.5
25.5
11.5
4.2
6.6
7.0
6.1
3.6
3.8
3.4
3.3
3.6
3.0
2.7
2.4
3.0
5.6
5.6
5.2
2.7
7.1
13.5
4.4
1.7
2.5
2.7
2.3
1.5
1.4
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.7
2.1
2.0
2.2
3.6
8.5
12.0
7.0
2.5
4.1
4.3
3.8
2.1
2.4
1.9
2.0
2.3
1.7
1.2
1.1
1.3
3.5
3.7
3.0
MEN
WOMEN
Total, 16 years and over…… 37,469
Under 25 years……………… 7,147
16 to 19 years……………… 2,064
20 to 24 years……………… 5,083
25 years and over…………… 30,323
25 to 34 years……………… 8,024
4,336
25 to 29 years……………
3,688
30 to 34 years……………
35 to 44 years……………… 7,132
3,418
35 to 39 years……………
3,714
40 to 44 years……………
45 to 54 years……………… 8,164
4,104
45 to 49 years……………
4,060
50 to 54 years……………
55 to 64 years……………… 5,555
3,321
55 to 59 years……………
2,233
60 to 64 years……………
1,448
65 years and over…………
815
65 to 69 years……………
70 years and over………
633
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Table 8. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
marital status, age, and sex, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Marital status, age,
and sex
Total paid
hourly
rates
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Total
Total paid
At
Below
hourly
minimum minimum
rates
wage
wage
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
BOTH SEXES
Total, 16 years and over……
Never married……………
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
Married, spouse present…
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
Other marital status………
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
73,926
26,703
12,847
13,855
12,827
34,624
1,143
33,481
25,347
12,599
446
12,153
8,481
3,829
2,462
1,751
711
660
836
89
748
605
531
56
475
324
1,677
1,097
835
262
239
358
40
318
252
222
18
204
128
2,152
1,365
916
449
421
478
49
430
353
309
38
271
196
100.0
36.1
17.4
18.7
17.4
46.8
1.5
45.3
34.3
17.0
0.6
16.4
11.5
100.0
64.3
45.7
18.6
17.2
21.8
2.3
19.5
15.8
13.9
1.5
12.4
8.5
100.0
65.4
49.8
15.6
14.3
21.3
2.4
19.0
15.0
13.2
1.1
12.2
7.6
100.0
63.4
42.6
20.9
19.6
22.2
2.3
20.0
16.4
14.4
1.8
12.6
9.1
5.2
9.2
13.6
5.1
5.1
2.4
7.8
2.2
2.4
4.2
12.6
3.9
3.8
2.3
4.1
6.5
1.9
1.9
1.0
3.5
0.9
1.0
1.8
4.0
1.7
1.5
2.9
5.1
7.1
3.2
3.3
1.4
4.3
1.3
1.4
2.5
8.5
2.2
2.3
36,457
14,132
6,575
7,557
7,072
17,462
518
16,944
12,765
4,864
197
4,666
3,497
1,433
1,019
734
285
262
279
33
245
188
137
20
116
82
648
457
363
94
85
131
16
115
85
61
9
51
36
785
562
371
191
177
148
17
130
103
76
11
65
46
49.3
19.1
8.9
10.2
9.6
23.6
0.7
22.9
17.3
6.6
0.3
6.3
4.7
37.4
26.6
19.2
7.4
6.8
7.3
0.9
6.4
4.9
3.6
0.5
3.0
2.1
38.6
27.3
21.6
5.6
5.1
7.8
1.0
6.9
5.1
3.6
0.5
3.0
2.1
36.5
26.1
17.2
8.9
8.2
6.9
0.8
6.0
4.8
3.5
0.5
3.0
2.1
3.9
7.2
11.2
3.8
3.7
1.6
6.4
1.4
1.5
2.8
10.2
2.5
2.3
1.8
3.2
5.5
1.2
1.2
0.8
3.1
0.7
0.7
1.3
4.6
1.1
1.0
2.2
4.0
5.6
2.5
2.5
0.8
3.3
0.8
0.8
1.6
5.6
1.4
1.3
37,469
12,571
6,273
6,298
5,754
17,162
625
16,537
12,582
7,736
249
7,487
4,983
2,395
1,444
1,018
426
399
557
55
502
415
394
37
357
242
1,029
641
473
168
154
227
24
203
166
161
9
152
92
1,366
803
545
258
245
330
31
299
249
233
28
205
150
50.7
17.0
8.5
8.5
7.8
23.2
0.8
22.4
17.0
10.5
0.3
10.1
6.7
62.5
37.7
26.6
11.1
10.4
14.5
1.4
13.1
10.8
10.3
1.0
9.3
6.3
61.4
38.2
28.2
10.0
9.2
13.5
1.4
12.1
9.9
9.6
0.5
9.1
5.5
63.5
37.3
25.3
12.0
11.4
15.3
1.4
13.9
11.6
10.8
1.3
9.5
7.0
6.4
11.5
16.2
6.8
6.9
3.2
8.8
3.0
3.3
5.1
14.9
4.8
4.9
2.7
5.1
7.5
2.7
2.7
1.3
3.8
1.2
1.3
2.1
3.6
2.0
1.8
3.6
6.4
8.7
4.1
4.3
1.9
5.0
1.8
2.0
3.0
11.2
2.7
3.0
MEN
Total, 16 years and over….
Never married……………
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
Married, spouse present…
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
Other marital status………
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
WOMEN
Total, 16 years and over……
Never married……………
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
Married, spouse present…
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
Other marital status………
16 to 24 years……………
25 years and over………
25 to 54 years…………
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Other marital status includes
married, spouse absent; divorced; separated; and widowed persons.
Table 9. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
usual hours worked per week on primary job, 2011 annual averages
Number of workers (in thousands)
Usual hours worked per
week on primary job
Total paid
hourly
rates
Total, 16 years and over……
Hours vary…………………
0 to 34 hours………………
0 to 4 hours………………
5 to 9 hours………………
10 to 14 hours……………
15 to 19 hours……………
20 to 24 hours……………
25 to 29 hours……………
30 to 34 hours……………
35 hours or more……………
35 to 39 hours……………
40 hours or more…………
40 hours…………………
41 hours or more…………
41 to 44 hours…………
45 to 48 hours…………
49 to 59 hours…………
60 hours or more………
73,926
4,962
18,127
411
992
1,550
2,284
5,272
2,610
5,006
50,837
6,050
44,787
39,231
5,557
659
1,885
2,038
975
Percent of workers paid
hourly rates
Percent distribution
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wage
Total
Total
3,829
491
2,251
59
146
211
363
673
314
484
1,087
343
743
653
90
12
31
26
20
Total paid
At
Below
hourly
minimum minimum
rates
wage
wage
1,677
198
1,029
22
63
128
184
337
121
173
450
134
316
286
30
3
9
6
11
2,152
293
1,222
37
83
83
179
336
193
311
637
209
427
367
60
9
22
20
9
100.0
6.7
24.5
0.6
1.3
2.1
3.1
7.1
3.5
6.8
68.8
8.2
60.6
53.1
7.5
0.9
2.5
2.8
1.3
100.0
12.8
58.8
1.5
3.8
5.5
9.5
17.6
8.2
12.6
28.4
9.0
19.4
17.1
2.4
0.3
0.8
0.7
0.5
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
100.0
11.8
61.4
1.3
3.8
7.6
11.0
20.1
7.2
10.3
26.8
8.0
18.8
17.1
1.8
0.2
0.5
0.4
0.7
100.0
13.6
56.8
1.7
3.9
3.9
8.3
15.6
9.0
14.5
29.6
9.7
19.8
17.1
2.8
0.4
1.0
0.9
0.4
At or below minimum wage
Total
5.2
9.9
12.4
14.4
14.7
13.6
15.9
12.8
12.0
9.7
2.1
5.7
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.8
1.6
1.3
2.1
At
Below
minimum minimum
wage
wage
2.3
4.0
5.7
5.4
6.4
8.3
8.1
6.4
4.6
3.5
0.9
2.2
0.7
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.3
1.1
2.9
5.9
6.7
9.0
8.4
5.4
7.8
6.4
7.4
6.2
1.3
3.5
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.9
NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Estimates of usual hours worked presented in
this table differ from usual full- or part-time status (as shown in table 1) because of a sizable number of workers whose usual hours vary on the
primary job.
Table 10. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal
minimum wage by sex, 1979-2011 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Percent of
total wage
and salary
workers
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent
of hourly
paid
workers
BOTH SEXES
1979……………………
87,529
51,721
59.1
2,916
3,997
6,912
13.4
1980……………………
1981………………….
1982……………………
1983……………………
1984……………………
1985……………………
1986 ¹…………………
1987……………………
1988……………………
1989……………………
87,644
88,516
87,368
88,290
92,194
94,521
96,903
99,303
101,407
103,480
51,335
51,869
50,846
51,820
54,143
55,762
57,529
59,552
60,878
62,389
58.6
58.6
58.2
58.7
58.7
59.0
59.4
60.0
60.0
60.3
3,087
3,513
2,348
2,077
1,838
1,639
1,599
1,468
1,319
1,372
4,686
4,311
4,148
4,261
4,125
3,899
3,461
3,229
2,608
1,790
7,773
7,824
6,496
6,338
5,963
5,538
5,060
4,698
3,927
3,162
15.1
15.1
12.8
12.2
11.0
9.9
8.8
7.9
6.5
5.1
1990 ¹…………………
1991……………………
1992……………………
1993……………………
1994 ¹…………………
1995……………………
1996……………………
1997 ¹…………………
1998 ¹…………………
1999 ¹…………………
104,876
103,723
104,668
106,101
107,989
110,038
111,960
114,533
116,730
118,963
63,172
62,627
63,610
64,274
66,549
68,354
69,255
70,735
71,440
72,306
60.2
60.4
60.8
60.6
61.6
62.1
61.9
61.8
61.2
60.8
²2,132
²2,377
1,939
1,707
1,995
1,699
²1,863
²2,990
2,834
2,194
²1,096
²2,906
2,982
2,625
2,132
1,956
²1,861
²1,764
1,593
1,146
²3,228
²5,283
4,921
4,332
4,128
3,656
²3,724
²4,754
4,427
3,340
²5.1
²8.4
7.7
6.7
6.2
5.3
²5.4
²6.7
6.2
4.6
2000 ¹…………………
2001……………………
2002……………………
2003 ¹…………………
2004 ¹…………………
2005……………………
2006……………………
2007……………………
2008 ¹…………………
2009 ¹………………..
122,089
122,229
121,826
122,358
123,554
125,889
128,237
129,767
129,377
124,490
73,496
73,392
72,508
72,946
73,939
75,609
76,514
75,873
75,305
72,611
60.2
60.0
59.5
59.6
59.8
60.1
59.7
58.5
58.2
58.3
1,752
1,518
1,579
1,555
1,483
1,403
1,283
²1,462
²1,940
²2,592
898
656
567
545
520
479
409
²267
²286
²980
2,650
2,174
2,146
2,100
2,003
1,882
1,692
²1,729
²2,226
²3,572
3.6
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.7
2.5
2.2
²2.3
²3.0
²4.9
2010……………………
2011……………………
124,073
125,187
72,902
73,926
58.8
59.1
2,541
2,152
1,820
1,677
4,361
3,829
6.0
5.2
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 10. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal
minimum wage by sex, 1979-2011 annual averages -- Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Percent of
total wage
and salary
workers
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent
of hourly
paid
workers
MEN
1979……………………
49,400
28,392
57.5
846
1,353
2,199
7.7
1980……………………
1981………………….
1982……………………
1983……………………
1984……………………
1985……………………
1986 ¹…………………
1987……………………
1988……………………
1989……………………
48,700
48,844
47,591
47,856
50,022
51,015
51,942
52,938
53,912
54,789
27,709
27,576
26,481
26,831
28,140
28,893
29,666
30,474
31,058
31,687
56.9
56.5
55.6
56.1
56.3
56.6
57.1
57.6
57.6
57.8
983
1,119
697
585
490
440
408
364
311
379
1,696
1,533
1,587
1,658
1,626
1,544
1,336
1,283
1,066
733
2,678
2,652
2,284
2,243
2,116
1,984
1,743
1,647
1,377
1,112
9.7
9.6
8.6
8.4
7.5
6.9
5.9
5.4
4.4
3.5
1990 ¹…………………
1991……………………
1992……………………
1993……………………
1994 ¹…………………
1995……………………
1996……………………
1997 ¹…………………
1998 ¹…………………
1999 ¹…………………
55,553
54,618
54,826
55,475
56,570
57,669
58,473
59,825
60,973
61,914
32,104
31,639
32,155
32,337
33,528
34,420
34,838
35,521
35,761
36,073
57.8
57.9
58.6
58.3
59.3
59.7
59.6
59.4
58.7
58.3
²712
²795
653
573
674
542
²619
²1,147
1,039
768
²385
²1,114
1,231
1,091
891
796
²755
²673
628
446
²1,097
²1,909
1,885
1,664
1,565
1,338
²1,374
²1,820
1,667
1,214
²3.4
²6.0
5.9
5.1
4.7
3.9
²3.9
²5.1
4.7
3.4
2000 ¹…………………
2001……………………
2002……………………
2003 ¹…………………
2004 ¹…………………
2005……………………
2006……………………
2007……………………
2008 ¹…………………
2009 ¹………………..
63,662
63,647
63,272
63,236
64,145
65,466
66,811
67,468
66,846
63,539
36,720
36,544
36,000
35,853
36,806
37,652
38,193
37,790
37,334
35,185
57.7
57.4
56.9
56.7
57.4
57.5
57.2
56.0
55.9
55.4
582
497
582
493
470
459
422
²460
²638
²990
319
247
217
213
210
189
146
²86
²90
²368
901
744
799
706
680
648
568
²546
²728
²1,358
2.5
2.0
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.7
1.5
²1.4
²1.9
²3.9
2010……………………
2011……………………
63,531
64,686
35,498
36,457
55.9
56.4
943
785
669
648
1,612
1,433
4.5
3.9
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 10. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal
minimum wage by sex, 1979-2011 annual averages -- Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Percent of
total wage
and salary
workers
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent
of hourly
paid
workers
WOMEN
1979……………………
38,129
23,329
61.2
2,070
2,644
4,714
20.2
1980……………………
1981………………….
1982……………………
1983……………………
1984……………………
1985……………………
1986 ¹…………………
1987……………………
1988……………………
1989……………………
38,944
39,672
39,777
40,433
42,172
43,506
44,961
46,365
47,495
48,691
23,626
24,294
24,365
24,989
26,003
26,869
27,863
29,078
29,820
30,702
60.7
61.2
61.3
61.8
61.7
61.8
62.0
62.7
62.8
63.1
2,104
2,394
1,651
1,492
1,348
1,198
1,192
1,105
1,008
994
2,990
2,778
2,561
2,603
2,499
2,356
2,125
1,946
1,542
1,056
5,095
5,172
4,212
4,095
3,847
3,554
3,317
3,051
2,550
2,050
21.6
21.3
17.3
16.4
14.8
13.2
11.9
10.5
8.6
6.7
1990 ¹…………………
1991……………………
1992……………………
1993……………………
1994 ¹…………………
1995……………………
1996……………………
1997 ¹…………………
1998 ¹…………………
1999 ¹…………………
49,323
49,105
49,842
50,626
51,419
52,369
53,488
54,708
55,757
57,050
31,069
30,988
31,454
31,937
33,021
33,934
34,418
35,214
35,680
36,233
63.0
63.1
63.1
63.1
64.2
64.8
64.3
64.4
64.0
63.5
²1,420
²1,582
1,286
1,133
1,322
1,157
²1,244
²1,843
1,794
1,426
²711
²1,792
1,751
1,534
1,241
1,161
²1,106
²1,092
965
700
²2,131
²3,374
3,036
2,667
2,563
2,318
²2,350
²2,935
2,760
2,126
²6.9
²10.9
9.7
8.4
7.8
6.8
²6.8
²8.3
7.7
5.9
2000 ¹…………………
2001……………………
2002……………………
2003 ¹…………………
2004 ¹…………………
2005……………………
2006……………………
2007……………………
2008 ¹…………………
2009 ¹………………..
58,427
58,582
58,555
59,122
59,408
60,423
61,426
62,299
62,532
60,951
36,777
36,848
36,508
37,093
37,133
37,957
38,321
38,082
37,972
37,426
62.9
62.9
62.3
62.7
62.5
62.8
62.4
61.1
60.7
61.4
1,170
1,021
997
1,062
1,013
944
861
²1,002
²1,302
²1,603
579
409
350
332
310
290
263
²181
²196
²612
1,749
1,430
1,347
1,394
1,323
1,234
1,124
²1,183
²1,498
²2,215
4.8
3.9
3.7
3.8
3.6
3.3
2.9
²3.1
²3.9
²5.9
2010……………………
2011……………………
60,542
60,502
37,404
37,469
61.8
61.9
1,598
1,366
1,151
1,029
2,749
2,395
7.3
6.4
¹ The comparability of historical labor force data has been
affected at various times by methodological and conceptual
changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS). For an
explanation, see the Historical Comparability section of the
documentation provided at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#comp.
² Data for 1990-91, 1996-97, and 2007-09 reflect changes in
the minimum wage that took place in those years.
NOTE: 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 on April 1, 1990, to $4.25 on April 1, 1991, to $4.75
on October 1, 1996, to $5.15 on September 1, 1997, to $5.85 on
July 24, 2007, to $6.55 on July 24, 2008, and to $7.25
on July 24, 2009. Data exclude all self-employed
persons whether or not their businesses are
incorporated. The presence of a sizable number of
workers with reported wages below the minimum does
not necessarily indicate violations of the Fair Labor
Standards Act, as there are numerous exemptions to
the minimum wage provisions of the law. In addition,
the relatively large number of workers with reported
wages below the minimum in some years may reflect
rounding on the part of survey respondents.