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March 2019 
                    Report 1078

				 
			


		
		
























											



				 
                
                BLS Reports Menu
                    CONTENTS
                        Highlights
 
                          Statistical Tables 
						  Table 1. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 2. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 3. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 4. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 5. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 6. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 7. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 8. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 9. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...Table 10. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or...
                          Technical Notes
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     Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2018
Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2018 imageIn 2018, 81.9 million workers age 16 and older in the United States were paid at hourly rates, representing 58.5 percent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, 434,000 workers earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 1.3 million had wages below the federal minimum. Together, these 1.7 million workers with wages at or below the federal minimum made up 2.1 percent of all hourly paid workers.The percentage of hourly paid workers earning the prevailing federal minimum wage or less edged down from 2.3 percent in 2017 to 2.1 percent in 2018. This remains well below the percentage of 13.4 recorded in 1979, when data were first collected on a regular basis. (See table 10.)This report presents highlights and statistical tables describing workers who earned at or below the federal minimum wage in 2018. The data are obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a national monthly survey of approximately 60,000 households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Information on earnings is collected from one-fourth of the CPS sample each month.The CPS does not include questions on whether workers are covered by the minimum wage provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or by individual state or local minimum wage laws. The estimates of workers paid at or below the federal minimum wage are based solely on the hourly wage they report, which does not include overtime pay, tips, or commissions. See the accompanying technical notes section for more information, including a description of the source of the data and an explanation of the concepts and definitions used in this report.HighlightsThe following are highlights from the 2018 data:**Age.** Minimum wage workers tend to be young. Although workers under age 25 represented only about one-fifth of hourly paid workers, they made up just under half of those paid the federal minimum wage or less. Among employed teenagers (ages 16 to 19) paid by the hour, about 8 percent earned the minimum wage or less, compared with about 1 percent of workers age 25 and older. (See tables 1 and 7.)**Gender.** Among workers who were paid hourly rates in 2018, about 3 percent of women and about 2 percent of men had wages at or below the prevailing federal minimum. (See table 1.)**Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.**The percentage of hourly paid workers with wages at or below the federal minimum differed little among the major race and ethnicity groups. About 3 percent of Black or African American workers earned the federal minimum wage or less. Among White, Asian, and Hispanic workers, the percentage was about 2 percent. (See table 1.)**Education.** Among hourly paid workers age 16 and older, about 3 percent of those without a high school diploma earned the federal minimum wage or less, compared with about 2 percent of those who had a high school diploma (with no college), about 2 percent of those with some college or an associate degree, and about 1 percent of college graduates. (See table 6.)**Marital status.** Among workers paid an hourly wage, those who were never married, who tend to be young, were more likely (about 4 percent) than married workers (1 percent) to earn the federal minimum wage or less. (See table 8.)**Full- and part-time status.** About 5 percent of part-time workers (people who usually work fewer than 35 hours per week) were paid the federal minimum wage or less, compared with about 1 percent of full-time workers. (See table 1.)**Occupation.** Among major occupational groups, service occupations had the highest percentage of hourly paid workers earning at or below the federal minimum wage, at about 6 percent. Just under three-fourths of workers earning the minimum wage or less in 2018 were employed in service occupations, mostly in food preparation and serving related jobs. (See table 4.)**Industry.**The industry with the highest percentage of workers earning hourly wages at or below the federal minimum wage was leisure and hospitality (11 percent). About three-fifths of all workers paid at or below the federal minimum wage were employed in this industry, almost entirely in restaurants and other food services. For many of these workers, tips may supplement the hourly wages received. (See table 5.)**State of residence.** The states with the highest percentages of hourly paid workers earning at or below the minimum wage were in the South: Louisiana (about 5 percent) and South Carolina (about 4 percent). In the District of Columbia, about 4 percent of workers were paid at or below the federal minimum. The states with the lowest percentages of hourly paid workers earning at or below the federal minimum wage were in the West or Midwest: Alaska, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington (all were less than 1 percent). It should be noted that more than half of states have minimum wages that exceed the federal minimum. (See tables 2 and 3.)		
	
	 
	 Statistical Tables
        
                                                                                


Table 1. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by selected characteristics, 2018 annual averages
Characteristic
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageAge and genderTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.616 to 24 years
15,963
805
271
534
19.5
47.1
62.5
41.8
5.0
1.7
3.316 to 19 years
4,751
361
166
195
5.8
21.1
38.2
15.3
7.6
3.5
4.125 years and older
65,952
905
163
742
80.5
52.9
37.5
58.2
1.4
0.2
1.1Men, 16 years and older
40,691
632
168
464
49.7
37.0
38.6
36.4
1.6
0.4
1.116 to 24 years
7,994
301
115
186
9.8
17.6
26.6
14.6
3.8
1.4
2.316 to 19 years
2,261
133
63
69
2.8
7.8
14.6
5.4
5.9
2.8
3.125 years and older
32,698
331
52
278
39.9
19.3
12.1
21.8
1.0
0.2
0.9Women, 16 years and older
41,223
1,078
267
812
50.3
63.0
61.4
63.6
2.6
0.6
2.016 to 24 years
7,969
504
156
348
9.7
29.4
35.9
27.2
6.3
2.0
4.416 to 19 years
2,491
228
103
125
3.0
13.3
23.6
9.8
9.2
4.1
5.025 years and older
33,254
575
110
464
40.6
33.6
25.4
36.4
1.7
0.3
1.4Race and Hispanicor Latino ethnicityWhite(1)
62,204
1,242
283
958
75.9
72.6
65.2
75.1
2.0
0.5
1.5Men
31,509
434
101
333
38.5
25.4
23.3
26.1
1.4
0.3
1.1Women
30,695
808
182
626
37.5
47.2
41.9
49.0
2.6
0.6
2.0Black or African American(1)
12,135
313
114
198
14.8
18.3
26.3
15.5
2.6
0.9
1.6Men
5,537
137
52
85
6.8
8.0
11.9
6.7
2.5
0.9
1.5Women
6,598
175
63
113
8.1
10.3
14.4
8.8
2.7
0.9
1.7Asian(1)
4,130
69
16
53
5.0
4.0
3.7
4.1
1.7
0.4
1.3Men
1,909
23
6
17
2.3
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.2
0.3
0.9Women
2,221
46
10
36
2.7
2.7
2.3
2.8
2.1
0.4
1.6Hispanic or Latino(1)
17,452
324
78
246
21.3
18.9
18.1
19.2
1.9
0.4
1.4Men
9,543
131
26
105
11.7
7.6
6.0
8.2
1.4
0.3
1.1Women
7,909
194
52
141
9.7
11.3
12.1
11.1
2.4
0.7
1.8Full- and part-time statusFull-time workers(2)
61,650
742
121
621
75.3
43.4
27.8
48.7
1.2
0.2
1.0Men
33,736
288
45
244
41.2
16.9
10.3
19.1
0.9
0.1
0.7Women
27,913
454
76
377
34.1
26.5
17.6
29.6
1.6
0.3
1.4Part-time workers(2)
20,155
965
312
653
24.6
56.4
71.9
51.2
4.8
1.5
3.2Men
6,895
341
122
219
8.4
19.9
28.1
17.2
4.9
1.8
3.2Women
13,260
624
190
434
16.2
36.5
43.8
34.0
4.7
1.4
3.3Footnotes(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. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 2. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by census region and division, 2018 annual averages
Region and division
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Northeast
13,443
272
69
203
16.4
15.9
16.0
15.9
2.0
0.5
1.5New England
3,863
76
6
70
4.7
4.5
1.4
5.5
2.0
0.2
1.8Middle Atlantic
9,580
196
63
133
11.7
11.5
14.5
10.4
2.0
0.7
1.4Midwest
19,182
360
73
287
23.4
21.1
16.9
22.5
1.9
0.4
1.5East North Central
13,044
261
50
211
15.9
15.3
11.5
16.6
2.0
0.4
1.6West North Central
6,138
99
23
76
7.5
5.8
5.3
5.9
1.6
0.4
1.2South
29,457
855
239
615
36.0
50.0
55.1
48.2
2.9
0.8
2.1South Atlantic
15,191
397
85
312
18.5
23.2
19.5
24.4
2.6
0.6
2.1East South Central
4,793
147
63
84
5.9
8.6
14.6
6.6
3.1
1.3
1.7West South Central
9,472
311
91
220
11.6
18.2
21.0
17.3
3.3
1.0
2.3West
19,832
223
52
171
24.2
13.0
12.1
13.4
1.1
0.3
0.9Mountain
6,458
99
25
74
7.9
5.8
5.8
5.8
1.5
0.4
1.1Pacific
13,374
124
27
96
16.3
7.2
6.3
7.5
0.9
0.2
0.7Note: 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 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 3. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by state, 2018 annual averages
State
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Alabama
1,220
37
19
18
1.5
2.2
4.3
1.4
3.1
1.5
1.5Alaska
198
2
0
2
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.8
0.0
0.8Arizona
1,901
20
3
17
2.3
1.1
0.6
1.3
1.0
0.1
0.9Arkansas
759
12
3
9
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.7
1.5
0.4
1.1California
9,798
93
23
70
12.0
5.4
5.3
5.5
1.0
0.2
0.7Colorado
1,290
21
4
17
1.6
1.2
0.8
1.3
1.6
0.3
1.3Connecticut
937
15
1
15
1.1
0.9
0.2
1.1
1.6
0.1
1.6Delaware
265
5
1
4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
1.9
0.3
1.6District of Columbia
121
4
1
3
0.1
0.3
0.3
0.2
3.7
1.1
2.6Florida
4,892
112
9
104
6.0
6.6
2.0
8.1
2.3
0.2
2.1Georgia
2,343
53
18
35
2.9
3.1
4.1
2.7
2.3
0.8
1.5Hawaii
353
8
1
7
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.5
2.2
0.2
1.9Idaho
485
11
4
7
0.6
0.6
0.9
0.6
2.3
0.8
1.5Illinois
3,277
55
8
47
4.0
3.2
1.9
3.7
1.7
0.3
1.4Indiana
1,954
52
16
36
2.4
3.0
3.7
2.8
2.6
0.8
1.8Iowa
949
20
6
15
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.1
2.1
0.6
1.5Kansas
805
17
7
11
1.0
1.0
1.5
0.8
2.2
0.8
1.3Kentucky
1,157
30
10
20
1.4
1.7
2.3
1.6
2.6
0.9
1.7Louisiana
1,092
49
13
36
1.3
2.9
2.9
2.8
4.5
1.2
3.3Maine
360
7
0
6
0.4
0.4
0.1
0.5
1.8
0.1
1.7Maryland
1,400
31
4
26
1.7
1.8
1.0
2.1
2.2
0.3
1.9Massachusetts
1,709
32
2
30
2.1
1.9
0.4
2.4
1.9
0.1
1.8Michigan
2,780
46
6
40
3.4
2.7
1.4
3.1
1.7
0.2
1.4Minnesota
1,622
11
1
10
2.0
0.6
0.3
0.7
0.7
0.1
0.6Mississippi
721
22
11
11
0.9
1.3
2.4
0.9
3.0
1.5
1.5Missouri
1,669
34
8
26
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.0
0.5
1.6Montana
300
3
1
2
0.4
0.2
0.3
0.1
1.0
0.4
0.6Nebraska
588
9
0
9
0.7
0.5
0.1
0.7
1.6
0.1
1.5Nevada
944
13
4
8
1.2
0.7
1.0
0.7
1.3
0.5
0.9New Hampshire
391
12
1
11
0.5
0.7
0.3
0.8
3.0
0.3
2.7New Jersey
1,813
37
10
27
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.0
0.5
1.5New Mexico
530
15
2
13
0.6
0.9
0.4
1.0
2.8
0.3
2.5New York
4,339
63
8
55
5.3
3.7
1.9
4.3
1.5
0.2
1.3North Carolina
2,562
79
26
53
3.1
4.6
6.0
4.1
3.1
1.0
2.1North Dakota
228
3
1
2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
1.5
0.4
1.1Ohio
3,224
66
5
61
3.9
3.9
1.2
4.8
2.1
0.2
1.9Oklahoma
945
24
9
16
1.2
1.4
2.0
1.2
2.6
0.9
1.7Oregon
1,094
8
2
6
1.3
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.8
0.2
0.6Pennsylvania
3,428
96
45
51
4.2
5.6
10.3
4.0
2.8
1.3
1.5Rhode Island
290
7
2
5
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
2.3
0.5
1.7South Carolina
1,162
48
15
33
1.4
2.8
3.5
2.6
4.1
1.3
2.8South Dakota
276
4
0
4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.3
1.5
0.2
1.3Tennessee
1,696
58
24
34
2.1
3.4
5.6
2.7
3.4
1.4
2.0Texas
6,677
226
67
160
8.2
13.2
15.3
12.5
3.4
1.0
2.4Utah
847
14
7
7
1.0
0.8
1.5
0.5
1.6
0.8
0.8Vermont
175
4
1
4
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.3
2.5
0.4
2.1Virginia
1,991
56
8
48
2.4
3.3
1.9
3.8
2.8
0.4
2.4Washington
1,931
13
1
12
2.4
0.7
0.2
0.9
0.7
0.1
0.6West Virginia
455
8
2
6
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.5
1.8
0.4
1.4Wisconsin
1,809
42
15
28
2.2
2.5
3.3
2.2
2.3
0.8
1.5Wyoming
161
4
1
3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
2.5
0.6
1.8Note: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. 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. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 4. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by occupation, 2018 annual averages
Occupation
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Management, professional, and related occupations
19,040
90
26
64
23.2
5.3
6.0
5.0
0.5
0.1
0.3Management, business, and financial operations occupations
5,725
27
2
24
7.0
1.6
0.5
1.9
0.5
0.0
0.4Professional and related occupations
13,314
63
24
39
16.3
3.7
5.5
3.1
0.5
0.2
0.3Service occupations
19,509
1,229
206
1,023
23.8
71.8
47.3
80.2
6.3
1.1
5.2Healthcare support occupations
2,997
50
5
45
3.7
2.9
1.2
3.5
1.7
0.2
1.5Protective service occupations
2,067
38
9
29
2.5
2.2
2.2
2.3
1.8
0.5
1.4Food preparation and serving related occupations
7,141
968
131
837
8.7
56.6
30.1
65.6
13.6
1.8
11.7Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
4,023
65
23
42
4.9
3.8
5.3
3.3
1.6
0.6
1.1Personal care and service occupations
3,281
108
37
71
4.0
6.3
8.6
5.5
3.3
1.1
2.2Sales and office occupations
20,183
226
150
75
24.6
13.2
34.6
5.9
1.1
0.7
0.4Sales and related occupations
8,046
140
105
35
9.8
8.2
24.1
2.7
1.7
1.3
0.4Office and administrative support occupations
12,137
86
46
40
14.8
5.0
10.5
3.1
0.7
0.4
0.3Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations
9,369
39
8
32
11.4
2.3
1.7
2.5
0.4
0.1
0.3Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
754
5
2
3
0.9
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.7
0.2
0.5Construction and extraction occupations
5,188
14
0
14
6.3
0.8
0.0
1.1
0.3
0.0
0.3Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
3,426
20
6
15
4.2
1.2
1.4
1.1
0.6
0.2
0.4Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
13,814
127
45
83
16.9
7.4
10.2
6.5
0.9
0.3
0.6Production occupations
6,981
43
17
26
8.5
2.5
3.9
2.0
0.6
0.2
0.4Transportation and material moving occupations
6,833
84
28
57
8.3
4.9
6.4
4.5
1.2
0.4
0.8Note: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 5. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by industry, 2018 annual averages
Industry
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Private sector
72,234
1,622
403
1,219
88.2
94.8
92.7
95.6
2.2
0.6
1.7Agriculture and related industries
908
6
1
5
1.1
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.7
0.1
0.5Nonagricultural industries
71,326
1,616
401
1,215
87.1
94.5
92.4
95.2
2.3
0.6
1.7Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
424
1
0
1
0.5
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.3
0.0
0.3Construction
5,502
12
1
11
6.7
0.7
0.1
0.9
0.2
0.0
0.2Manufacturing
9,407
62
19
43
11.5
3.6
4.3
3.4
0.7
0.2
0.5Durable goods
5,837
26
4
22
7.1
1.5
1.0
1.7
0.4
0.1
0.4Nondurable goods
3,570
36
14
21
4.4
2.1
3.3
1.7
1.0
0.4
0.6Wholesale and retail trade
12,988
149
95
54
15.9
8.7
21.9
4.2
1.1
0.7
0.4Wholesale trade
1,686
6
2
4
2.1
0.4
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.1
0.2Retail trade
11,302
143
93
50
13.8
8.4
21.3
3.9
1.3
0.8
0.4Transportation and utilities
3,742
26
3
23
4.6
1.5
0.8
1.8
0.7
0.1
0.6Information
1,118
12
5
8
1.4
0.7
1.1
0.6
1.1
0.4
0.7Financial activities
3,599
18
5
13
4.4
1.0
1.1
1.0
0.5
0.1
0.4Professional and business services
6,812
80
21
59
8.3
4.7
4.9
4.6
1.2
0.3
0.9Education and health services
14,262
132
46
85
17.4
7.7
10.7
6.7
0.9
0.3
0.6Leisure and hospitality
9,959
1,049
181
868
12.2
61.3
41.7
68.0
10.5
1.8
8.7Other services
3,514
75
25
50
4.3
4.4
5.8
3.9
2.1
0.7
1.4Public sector
9,681
89
32
57
11.8
5.2
7.3
4.4
0.9
0.3
0.6Federal
1,853
12
3
9
2.3
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.2
0.5State
2,914
34
21
13
3.6
2.0
4.9
1.0
1.2
0.7
0.4Local
4,913
43
8
35
6.0
2.5
1.8
2.8
0.9
0.2
0.7Note: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 6. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by educational attainment, 2018 annual averages
Educational attainment
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Less than a high school diploma
9,579
330
170
160
11.7
19.3
39.0
12.6
3.4
1.8
1.7Less than 1 year of high school
2,657
39
13
26
3.2
2.3
3.0
2.1
1.5
0.5
1.01 to 3 years of high school
5,548
242
140
102
6.8
14.1
32.2
8.0
4.4
2.5
1.84 years of high school, no diploma
1,374
49
17
32
1.7
2.8
3.9
2.5
3.5
1.2
2.3High school graduates or more
72,335
1,381
265
1,116
88.3
80.7
61.0
87.4
1.9
0.4
1.5High school graduates, no college
27,305
538
112
426
33.3
31.5
25.8
33.4
2.0
0.4
1.6Some college or associate degree
28,012
606
128
478
34.2
35.4
29.5
37.4
2.2
0.5
1.7Some college, no degree
17,700
469
97
372
21.6
27.4
22.3
29.2
2.6
0.5
2.1Associate degree
10,312
137
31
106
12.6
8.0
7.2
8.3
1.3
0.3
1.0Occupational program
4,495
48
8
40
5.5
2.8
1.9
3.2
1.1
0.2
0.9Academic program
5,817
89
23
65
7.1
5.2
5.4
5.1
1.5
0.4
1.1Bachelor's degree and higher
17,019
237
25
212
20.8
13.8
5.6
16.6
1.4
0.1
1.2Bachelor's degree
13,145
198
18
179
16.0
11.5
4.2
14.0
1.5
0.1
1.4Master's degree
3,141
32
5
27
3.8
1.9
1.1
2.1
1.0
0.2
0.9Professional degree
335
3
0
3
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.3
1.0
0.0
1.0Doctoral degree
399
4
1
3
0.5
0.2
0.3
0.2
1.0
0.3
0.7Note: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 7. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by age and gender, 2018 annual averages
Age and gender
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotalTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.616 to 24 years
15,963
805
271
534
19.5
47.1
62.5
41.8
5.0
1.7
3.316 to 19 years
4,751
361
166
195
5.8
21.1
38.2
15.3
7.6
3.5
4.120 to 24 years
11,211
444
106
339
13.7
26.0
24.3
26.6
4.0
0.9
3.025 years and older
65,952
905
163
742
80.5
52.9
37.5
58.2
1.4
0.2
1.125 to 34 years
19,831
349
65
285
24.2
20.4
14.9
22.3
1.8
0.3
1.425 to 29 years
10,891
217
43
174
13.3
12.7
9.9
13.6
2.0
0.4
1.630 to 34 years
8,940
133
22
111
10.9
7.8
5.0
8.7
1.5
0.2
1.235 to 44 years
15,181
219
38
181
18.5
12.8
8.7
14.2
1.4
0.3
1.235 to 39 years
8,043
121
18
103
9.8
7.1
4.2
8.0
1.5
0.2
1.340 to 44 years
7,138
98
20
78
8.7
5.7
4.5
6.1
1.4
0.3
1.145 to 54 years
14,610
161
25
136
17.8
9.4
5.9
10.6
1.1
0.2
0.945 to 49 years
7,313
88
13
75
8.9
5.2
3.0
5.9
1.2
0.2
1.050 to 54 years
7,297
73
13
60
8.9
4.3
2.9
4.7
1.0
0.2
0.855 to 64 years
12,303
116
18
98
15.0
6.8
4.1
7.7
0.9
0.1
0.855 to 59 years
7,123
66
7
59
8.7
3.8
1.6
4.6
0.9
0.1
0.860 to 64 years
5,180
50
11
39
6.3
2.9
2.6
3.1
1.0
0.2
0.865 years and older
4,027
60
17
43
4.9
3.5
3.8
3.4
1.5
0.4
1.165 to 69 years
2,300
38
10
28
2.8
2.2
2.4
2.2
1.7
0.4
1.270 years and older
1,727
22
6
15
2.1
1.3
1.5
1.2
1.2
0.4
0.9MenTotal, 16 years and older
40,691
632
168
464
49.7
37.0
38.6
36.4
1.6
0.4
1.116 to 24 years
7,994
301
115
186
9.8
17.6
26.6
14.6
3.8
1.4
2.316 to 19 years
2,261
133
63
69
2.8
7.8
14.6
5.4
5.9
2.8
3.120 to 24 years
5,733
169
52
117
7.0
9.9
12.0
9.1
2.9
0.9
2.025 years and older
32,698
331
52
278
39.9
19.3
12.1
21.8
1.0
0.2
0.925 to 34 years
10,371
132
17
115
12.7
7.7
3.9
9.0
1.3
0.2
1.125 to 29 years
5,717
81
14
67
7.0
4.7
3.2
5.3
1.4
0.2
1.230 to 34 years
4,654
51
3
48
5.7
3.0
0.8
3.7
1.1
0.1
1.035 to 44 years
7,748
89
17
72
9.5
5.2
3.9
5.7
1.2
0.2
0.935 to 39 years
4,153
52
11
41
5.1
3.0
2.6
3.2
1.3
0.3
1.040 to 44 years
3,595
37
6
31
4.4
2.2
1.3
2.5
1.0
0.2
0.945 to 54 years
6,966
56
10
46
8.5
3.3
2.2
3.6
0.8
0.1
0.745 to 49 years
3,507
33
5
27
4.3
1.9
1.2
2.1
0.9
0.2
0.850 to 54 years
3,459
23
4
19
4.2
1.4
1.0
1.5
0.7
0.1
0.655 to 64 years
5,761
41
6
34
7.0
2.4
1.5
2.7
0.7
0.1
0.655 to 59 years
3,366
28
4
24
4.1
1.6
0.9
1.9
0.8
0.1
0.760 to 64 years
2,395
13
2
11
2.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
0.5
0.1
0.465 years and older
1,852
13
2
11
2.3
0.8
0.5
0.8
0.7
0.1
0.665 to 69 years
1,018
8
1
7
1.2
0.5
0.3
0.5
0.8
0.1
0.770 years and older
833
5
1
4
1.0
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.6
0.1
0.5WomenTotal, 16 years and older
41,223
1,078
267
812
50.3
63.0
61.4
63.6
2.6
0.6
2.016 to 24 years
7,969
504
156
348
9.7
29.4
35.9
27.2
6.3
2.0
4.416 to 19 years
2,491
228
103
125
3.0
13.3
23.6
9.8
9.2
4.1
5.020 to 24 years
5,479
276
53
222
6.7
16.1
12.3
17.4
5.0
1.0
4.125 years and older
33,254
575
110
464
40.6
33.6
25.4
36.4
1.7
0.3
1.425 to 34 years
9,460
217
48
170
11.5
12.7
11.0
13.3
2.3
0.5
1.825 to 29 years
5,174
136
29
106
6.3
7.9
6.7
8.3
2.6
0.6
2.130 to 34 years
4,286
82
19
63
5.2
4.8
4.3
5.0
1.9
0.4
1.535 to 44 years
7,433
130
21
109
9.1
7.6
4.8
8.5
1.7
0.3
1.535 to 39 years
3,890
69
7
62
4.7
4.0
1.6
4.8
1.8
0.2
1.640 to 44 years
3,543
61
14
47
4.3
3.6
3.2
3.7
1.7
0.4
1.345 to 54 years
7,645
105
16
90
9.3
6.2
3.6
7.0
1.4
0.2
1.245 to 49 years
3,806
56
8
48
4.6
3.3
1.7
3.8
1.5
0.2
1.350 to 54 years
3,839
50
8
41
4.7
2.9
1.9
3.2
1.3
0.2
1.155 to 64 years
6,542
75
11
64
8.0
4.4
2.6
5.0
1.1
0.2
1.055 to 59 years
3,757
38
3
35
4.6
2.2
0.6
2.7
1.0
0.1
0.960 to 64 years
2,785
37
9
29
3.4
2.2
2.0
2.2
1.3
0.3
1.065 years and older
2,175
47
14
33
2.7
2.8
3.3
2.6
2.2
0.7
1.565 to 69 years
1,281
30
9
21
1.6
1.8
2.0
1.7
2.4
0.7
1.770 years and older
894
17
6
11
1.1
1.0
1.3
0.9
1.9
0.6
1.3Note: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 8. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage, by marital status, age, and gender, 2018 annual averages
Marital status, age,and gender
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotalTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Never married
33,131
1,146
328
818
40.4
67.0
75.4
64.1
3.5
1.0
2.516 to 24 years
14,567
766
258
508
17.8
44.8
59.3
39.8
5.3
1.8
3.525 years and older
18,564
380
70
310
22.7
22.2
16.1
24.3
2.0
0.4
1.725 to 54 years
16,959
349
64
285
20.7
20.4
14.8
22.3
2.1
0.4
1.7Married, spouse present(1)
35,753
361
58
302
43.6
21.1
13.4
23.7
1.0
0.2
0.816 to 24 years
1,003
28
10
19
1.2
1.7
2.2
1.5
2.8
1.0
1.925 years and older
34,750
332
49
283
42.4
19.4
11.2
22.2
1.0
0.1
0.825 to 54 years
24,639
247
35
212
30.1
14.4
8.1
16.6
1.0
0.1
0.9Widowed, divorced, or separated(2)
13,030
204
49
155
15.9
11.9
11.2
12.2
1.6
0.4
1.216 to 24 years
393
11
4
7
0.5
0.6
0.9
0.5
2.7
1.0
1.725 years and older
12,638
193
44
149
15.4
11.3
10.2
11.7
1.5
0.4
1.225 to 54 years
8,024
133
29
104
9.8
7.8
6.7
8.2
1.7
0.4
1.3MenTotal, 16 years and older
40,691
632
168
464
49.7
37.0
38.6
36.4
1.6
0.4
1.1Never married
17,289
470
142
328
21.1
27.5
32.8
25.7
2.7
0.8
1.916 to 24 years
7,413
292
114
178
9.1
17.1
26.2
13.9
3.9
1.5
2.425 years and older
9,875
179
29
150
12.1
10.4
6.6
11.8
1.8
0.3
1.525 to 54 years
9,123
161
26
135
11.1
9.4
6.0
10.6
1.8
0.3
1.5Married, spouse present(1)
18,348
111
14
97
22.4
6.5
3.3
7.6
0.6
0.1
0.516 to 24 years
419
6
1
5
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.4
1.5
0.3
1.225 years and older
17,929
105
13
91
21.9
6.1
3.0
7.2
0.6
0.1
0.525 to 54 years
12,695
78
8
70
15.5
4.6
1.9
5.5
0.6
0.1
0.5Widowed, divorced, or separated(2)
5,055
51
11
40
6.2
3.0
2.6
3.1
1.0
0.2
0.816 to 24 years
162
3
0
3
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
2.0
0.2
1.725 years and older
4,893
48
11
37
6.0
2.8
2.5
2.9
1.0
0.2
0.825 to 54 years
3,267
38
9
29
4.0
2.2
2.2
2.2
1.2
0.3
0.9WomenTotal, 16 years and older
41,223
1,078
267
812
50.3
63.0
61.4
63.6
2.6
0.6
2.0Never married
15,843
676
185
491
19.3
39.5
42.6
38.4
4.3
1.2
3.116 to 24 years
7,154
474
144
330
8.7
27.7
33.1
25.9
6.6
2.0
4.625 years and older
8,689
201
41
160
10.6
11.8
9.5
12.6
2.3
0.5
1.825 to 54 years
7,836
188
38
150
9.6
11.0
8.8
11.8
2.4
0.5
1.9Married, spouse present(1)
17,405
250
44
206
21.2
14.6
10.1
16.1
1.4
0.3
1.216 to 24 years
585
22
8
14
0.7
1.3
1.9
1.1
3.8
1.4
2.325 years and older
16,821
228
36
192
20.5
13.3
8.2
15.1
1.4
0.2
1.125 to 54 years
11,944
169
27
142
14.6
9.9
6.2
11.1
1.4
0.2
1.2Widowed, divorced, or separated(2)
7,975
153
37
116
9.7
8.9
8.6
9.1
1.9
0.5
1.416 to 24 years
231
7
4
4
0.3
0.4
0.8
0.3
3.2
1.6
1.625 years and older
7,744
146
34
112
9.5
8.5
7.8
8.8
1.9
0.4
1.425 to 54 years
4,757
95
20
76
5.8
5.6
4.5
5.9
2.0
0.4
1.6Footnotes(1) Refers to people in opposite-sex married couples only.(2) Separated includes people who are married, spouse absent.Note: Data exclude all self-employed workers, whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 9. 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, 2018 annual averages
Usual hours worked per week on primary job
Number of workers (in thousands)
Percent distribution
Percentage of workers paidhourly ratesTotal paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
Total paidhourlyrates
At or below minimum wage
At or below minimum wageTotal
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
Belowminimumwage
Total
Atminimumwage
BelowminimumwageTotal, 16 years and older
81,915
1,711
434
1,276
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
0.5
1.6Hours vary
4,390
171
49
122
5.4
10.0
11.3
9.5
3.9
1.1
2.80 to 34 hours
18,472
885
282
603
22.6
51.7
64.8
47.3
4.8
1.5
3.30 to 4 hours
394
19
8
11
0.5
1.1
1.8
0.9
4.8
2.0
2.95 to 9 hours
1,011
59
29
30
1.2
3.5
6.8
2.3
5.8
2.9
2.910 to 14 hours
1,616
90
45
45
2.0
5.2
10.3
3.5
5.6
2.8
2.815 to 19 hours
2,298
99
44
55
2.8
5.8
10.2
4.3
4.3
1.9
2.420 to 24 hours
5,548
258
82
176
6.8
15.1
18.8
13.8
4.6
1.5
3.225 to 29 hours
2,730
153
46
107
3.3
9.0
10.5
8.4
5.6
1.7
3.930 to 34 hours
4,876
207
28
179
6.0
12.1
6.5
14.0
4.2
0.6
3.735 hours or more
59,052
655
104
551
72.1
38.3
23.8
43.2
1.1
0.2
0.935 to 39 hours
5,811
158
32
126
7.1
9.2
7.3
9.9
2.7
0.5
2.240 hours or more
53,241
497
72
425
65.0
29.1
16.6
33.3
0.9
0.1
0.840 hours
45,593
447
63
385
55.7
26.2
14.5
30.1
1.0
0.1
0.841 hours or more
7,649
50
9
41
9.3
2.9
2.1
3.2
0.7
0.1
0.541 to 44 hours
756
2
1
1
0.9
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.145 to 48 hours
2,573
27
3
24
3.1
1.6
0.7
1.9
1.0
0.1
0.949 to 59 hours
2,990
13
3
10
3.7
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.4
0.1
0.360 hours or more
1,330
8
2
6
1.6
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.1
0.5Note: 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. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 10. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below prevailing federal minimum wage, by gender, 1979-2018 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Year and gender
Totalwageandsalaryworkers
Workers paid hourly ratesTotal
Percentageof totalwageandsalaryworkers
At prevailingfederalminimumwage(1)
Belowprevailingfederalminimumwage(1)
Total at or belowprevailing federalminimum wageNumber
Percentageof hourlypaidworkersTotal1979
87,529
51,721
59.1
3,997
2,916
6,912
13.41980
87,644
51,335
58.6
4,686
3,087
7,773
15.11981
88,516
51,869
58.6
4,311
3,513
7,824
15.11982
87,368
50,846
58.2
4,148
2,348
6,496
12.81983
88,290
51,820
58.7
4,261
2,077
6,338
12.21984
92,194
54,143
58.7
4,125
1,838
5,963
11.01985
94,521
55,762
59.0
3,899
1,639
5,538
9.91986
96,903
57,529
59.4
3,461
1,599
5,060
8.81987
99,303
59,552
60.0
3,229
1,468
4,698
7.91988
101,407
60,878
60.0
2,608
1,319
3,927
6.51989
103,480
62,389
60.3
1,790
1,372
3,162
5.11990
104,876
63,172
60.2
1,096
2,132
3,228
5.11991
103,723
62,627
60.4
2,906
2,377
5,283
8.41992
104,668
63,610
60.8
2,982
1,939
4,921
7.71993
106,101
64,274
60.6
2,625
1,707
4,332
6.71994
107,989
66,549
61.6
2,132
1,995
4,128
6.21995
110,038
68,354
62.1
1,956
1,699
3,656
5.31996
111,960
69,255
61.9
1,861
1,863
3,724
5.41997
114,533
70,735
61.8
1,764
2,990
4,754
6.71998
116,730
71,440
61.2
1,593
2,834
4,427
6.21999
118,963
72,306
60.8
1,146
2,194
3,340
4.62000
122,089
73,496
60.2
898
1,752
2,650
3.62001
122,229
73,392
60.0
656
1,518
2,174
3.02002
121,826
72,508
59.5
567
1,579
2,146
3.02003
122,358
72,946
59.6
545
1,555
2,100
2.92004
123,554
73,939
59.8
520
1,483
2,003
2.72005
125,889
75,609
60.1
479
1,403
1,882
2.52006
128,237
76,514
59.7
409
1,283
1,692
2.22007
129,767
75,873
58.5
267
1,462
1,729
2.32008
129,377
75,305
58.2
286
1,940
2,226
3.02009
124,490
72,611
58.3
980
2,592
3,572
4.92010
124,073
72,902
58.8
1,820
2,541
4,361
6.02011
125,187
73,926
59.1
1,677
2,152
3,829
5.22012
127,577
75,276
59.0
1,566
1,984
3,550
4.72013
129,110
75,948
58.8
1,532
1,768
3,301
4.32014
131,431
77,207
58.7
1,255
1,737
2,992
3.92015
133,743
78,232
58.5
870
1,691
2,561
3.32016
136,101
79,883
58.7
701
1,451
2,153
2.72017
137,890
80,439
58.3
542
1,282
1,824
2.32018
140,099
81,915
58.5
434
1,276
1,711
2.1Men1979
49,400
28,392
57.5
1,353
846
2,199
7.71980
48,700
27,709
56.9
1,696
983
2,678
9.71981
48,844
27,576
56.5
1,533
1,119
2,652
9.61982
47,591
26,481
55.6
1,587
697
2,284
8.61983
47,856
26,831
56.1
1,658
585
2,243
8.41984
50,022
28,140
56.3
1,626
490
2,116
7.51985
51,015
28,893
56.6
1,544
440
1,984
6.91986
51,942
29,666
57.1
1,336
408
1,743
5.91987
52,938
30,474
57.6
1,283
364
1,647
5.41988
53,912
31,058
57.6
1,066
311
1,377
4.41989
54,789
31,687
57.8
733
379
1,112
3.51990
55,553
32,104
57.8
385
712
1,097
3.41991
54,618
31,639
57.9
1,114
795
1,909
6.01992
54,826
32,155
58.6
1,231
653
1,885
5.91993
55,475
32,337
58.3
1,091
573
1,664
5.11994
56,570
33,528
59.3
891
674
1,565
4.71995
57,669
34,420
59.7
796
542
1,338
3.91996
58,473
34,838
59.6
755
619
1,374
3.91997
59,825
35,521
59.4
673
1,147
1,820
5.11998
60,973
35,761
58.7
628
1,039
1,667
4.71999
61,914
36,073
58.3
446
768
1,214
3.42000
63,662
36,720
57.7
319
582
901
2.52001
63,647
36,544
57.4
247
497
744
2.02002
63,272
36,000
56.9
217
582
799
2.22003
63,236
35,853
56.7
213
493
706
2.02004
64,145
36,806
57.4
210
470
680
1.82005
65,466
37,652
57.5
189
459
648
1.72006
66,811
38,193
57.2
146
422
568
1.52007
67,468
37,790
56.0
86
460
546
1.42008
66,846
37,334
55.9
90
638
728
1.92009
63,539
35,185
55.4
368
990
1,358
3.92010
63,531
35,498
55.9
669
943
1,612
4.52011
64,686
36,457
56.4
648
785
1,433
3.92012
65,898
37,113
56.3
567
696
1,263
3.42013
66,794
37,544
56.2
622
621
1,243
3.32014
68,048
38,405
56.4
516
598
1,114
2.92015
69,298
38,732
55.9
330
629
959
2.52016
70,589
39,568
56.1
270
499
769
1.92017
71,469
39,781
55.7
226
452
678
1.72018
72,632
40,691
56.0
168
464
632
1.6Women1979
38,129
23,329
61.2
2,644
2,070
4,714
20.21980
38,944
23,626
60.7
2,990
2,104
5,095
21.61981
39,672
24,294
61.2
2,778
2,394
5,172
21.31982
39,777
24,365
61.3
2,561
1,651
4,212
17.31983
40,433
24,989
61.8
2,603
1,492
4,095
16.41984
42,172
26,003
61.7
2,499
1,348
3,847
14.81985
43,506
26,869
61.8
2,356
1,198
3,554
13.21986
44,961
27,863
62.0
2,125
1,192
3,317
11.91987
46,365
29,078
62.7
1,946
1,105
3,051
10.51988
47,495
29,820
62.8
1,542
1,008
2,550
8.61989
48,691
30,702
63.1
1,056
994
2,050
6.71990
49,323
31,069
63.0
711
1,420
2,131
6.91991
49,105
30,988
63.1
1,792
1,582
3,374
10.91992
49,842
31,454
63.1
1,751
1,286
3,036
9.71993
50,626
31,937
63.1
1,534
1,133
2,667
8.41994
51,419
33,021
64.2
1,241
1,322
2,563
7.81995
52,369
33,934
64.8
1,161
1,157
2,318
6.81996
53,488
34,418
64.3
1,106
1,244
2,350
6.81997
54,708
35,214
64.4
1,092
1,843
2,935
8.31998
55,757
35,680
64.0
965
1,794
2,760
7.71999
57,050
36,233
63.5
700
1,426
2,126
5.92000
58,427
36,777
62.9
579
1,170
1,749
4.82001
58,582
36,848
62.9
409
1,021
1,430
3.92002
58,555
36,508
62.3
350
997
1,347
3.72003
59,122
37,093
62.7
332
1,062
1,394
3.82004
59,408
37,133
62.5
310
1,013
1,323
3.62005
60,423
37,957
62.8
290
944
1,234
3.32006
61,426
38,321
62.4
263
861
1,124
2.92007
62,299
38,082
61.1
181
1,002
1,183
3.12008
62,532
37,972
60.7
196
1,302
1,498
3.92009
60,951
37,426
61.4
612
1,603
2,215
5.92010
60,542
37,404
61.8
1,151
1,598
2,749
7.32011
60,502
37,469
61.9
1,029
1,366
2,395
6.42012
61,679
38,163
61.9
999
1,288
2,287
6.02013
62,316
38,404
61.6
910
1,148
2,058
5.42014
63,383
38,802
61.2
739
1,139
1,878
4.82015
64,445
39,500
61.3
540
1,062
1,602
4.12016
65,512
40,315
61.5
432
952
1,384
3.42017
66,421
40,658
61.2
316
829
1,146
2.82018
67,467
41,223
61.1
267
812
1,078
2.6Footnotes(1) Data for 1990-1991, 1996-1997, and 2007-2009 reflect changes in the minimum wage that took place in those years.Note: The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS). Information about historical comparability is available at https://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#comp. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Technical Notes
     
The estimates in this report were obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau using a scientifically selected national sample of about 60,000 eligible households in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey also provides data on earnings, which are based on one-fourth of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to wage and salary workers. All self-employed workers, both incorporated and unincorporated, are excluded from these earnings estimates.
The material in this report is in the public domain and may be used without permission.
Upon request this information is available to individuals who are sensory impaired. Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
Concepts and definitions
The principal definitions used in connection with the estimates of minimum wage workers presented in this report are described briefly below.
*Wage and salary workers.*Workers age 16 and older who receive wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payments in kind, or piece rates on their sole or principal job. This group includes employees in both the private and public sectors. All self-employed workers are excluded whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
*Workers paid by the hour*. These are wage and salary workers who report that they are paid at an hourly rate on their job. Historically, workers paid an hourly wage have made up approximately three-fifths of all wage and salary workers. Estimates of workers paid by the hour include both full- and part-time workers unless otherwise specified.
*Hourly earnings.* Data are for wage and salary workers who are paid by the hour and refer to a person’s sole or principal job. Hourly earnings for hourly paid workers do not include overtime pay, commissions, or tips received.
*Workers paid at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage*. The estimates of the numbers of workers with reported earnings at or below the federal minimum wage pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried workers and the other nonhourly paid workers are excluded.
Regular collection of earnings data in the basic CPS began in 1979. The prevailing federal minimum wage for 1979 and later years is listed below:

**Federal minimum wage**
**Effective date**$2.90
January 1, 1979$3.10
January 1, 1980$3.35
January 1, 1981$3.80
April 1, 1990$4.25
April 1, 1991$4.75
October 1, 1996$5.15
September 1, 1997$5.85
July 24, 2007$6.55
July 24, 2008$7.25
July 24, 2009
Estimates of the annual average number of minimum wage workers for years when the minimum wage increased reflect both minimum wage levels in effect during the year. For example, data for 2007 reflect the number of workers at or below the federal minimum of $5.15 for January to July and $5.85 for August to December.
*Full-time workers.* People who usually work 35 hours or more per week at their sole or principal job are defined as working full time.
*Part-time workers.*People who usually work fewer than 35 hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as working part time.
*Race*. In the survey process, race is determined by the household respondent. In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget guidelines, White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are terms used to describe a person’s race. The latter two race groups and people who selected more than one race are included in totals but not separately identified in this report because the number of survey respondents is too small to develop estimates of sufficient quality.
*Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.* These are people who identified themselves in the survey process as being of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Interpreting minimum wage data
The CPS does not determine whether workers are covered by the minimum wage provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or by individual state or local minimum wage laws. The estimates of workers paid at or below the federal minimum wage are based solely on the hourly wage that respondents report (which does not include overtime pay, tips, or commissions). It should be noted that some respondents might round hourly earnings when answering survey questions. As a result, some workers might be reported as having hourly earnings above or below the federal minimum wage when, in fact, they earn the minimum wage.
Some workers reported as earning at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage may not, in fact, be covered by federal or state minimum wage laws because of exclusions and exemptions in the statutes. Thus, the presence of workers with hourly earnings below the federal minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of the FLSA or state statutes in cases where such standards apply.
Estimates of the number of minimum wage workers in this report pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried workers and other workers who are not paid by the hour are excluded, even though some have earnings that, if converted to hourly rates, would be at or below the federal minimum wage. Consequently, the estimates presented in this report likely underestimate the actual number of workers with hourly earnings at or below the minimum wage. BLS does not routinely estimate the hourly earnings of workers not paid by the hour because of data-quality concerns associated with constructing such an estimate.
A number of states have established minimum wage rates that exceed the federal level. (Information on state minimum wage laws is available at www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm.) Users should be cautious about comparing state estimates in this report because of differing statutory minimum wages. It also should be noted that the CPS sample is based on residence; workers report their earnings on their job, which may or may not be located in the same state in which they live. In addition, the degree of sampling error may be quite large for some state estimates.
Reliability
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the true population values they represent. The component of this difference that occurs because samples differ by chance is known as sampling error, and its variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the true population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data. For example, respondents may round their hourly earnings to whole dollars when answering survey questions.
Information about the reliability of data from the CPS is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.
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