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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

AGE AND SEX

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

 16 to 24 years.............................. 14,436 1,896 893 1,003 19.5 49.5 53.2 46.6 13.1 6.2 6.9

 16 to 19 years........................... 3,936 899 491 408 5.3 23.5 29.3 19.0 22.8 12.5 10.4

 25 years and over........................ 59,490 1,933 784 1,149 80.5 50.5 46.8 53.4 3.2 1.3 1.9

 

Men, 16 years and over................. 36,457 1,433 648 785 49.3 37.4 38.6 36.5 3.9 1.8 2.2

 16 to 24 years............................. 7,290 787 388 399 9.9 20.6 23.1 18.5 10.8 5.3 5.5

 16 to 19 years........................... 1,872 373 212 161 2.5 9.7 12.6 7.5 19.9 11.3 8.6

 25 years and over....................... 29,167 647 260 387 39.5 16.9 15.5 18.0 2.2 0.9 1.3

 

Women, 16 years and over............ 37,469 2,395 1,029 1,366 50.7 62.5 61.4 63.5 6.4 2.7 3.6

 16 to 24 years............................. 7,147 1,109 505 604 9.7 29.0 30.1 28.1 15.5 7.1 8.5

 16 to 19 years........................... 2,064 526 279 247 2.8 13.7 16.6 11.5 25.5 13.5 12.0

 25 years and over........................ 30,323 1,286 524 762 41.0 33.6 31.2 35.4 4.2 1.7 2.5

 

RACE, SEX, AND 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY 

White 1....................................... 59,314 3,006 1,258 1,748 80.2 78.5 75.0 81.2 5.1 2.1 2.9

 Men........................................... 29,743 1,108 484 624 40.2 28.9 28.9 29.0 3.7 1.6 2.1

 Women...................................... 29,571 1,898 774 1,124 40.0 49.6 46.2 52.2 6.4 2.6 3.8

 

Black or African American 1............... 9,523 577 324 253 12.9 15.1 19.3 11.8 6.1 3.4 2.7

 Men........................................... 4,252 222 117 105 5.8 5.8 7.0 4.9 5.2 2.8 2.5

 Women...................................... 5,271 356 208 148 7.1 9.3 12.4 6.9 6.8 3.9 2.8

Asian 1........................................ 3,037 99 36 63 4.1 2.6 2.1 2.9 3.3 1.2 2.1

 Men........................................... 1,425 41 13 28 1.9 1.1 0.8 1.3 2.9 0.9 2.0

 Women...................................... 1,612 58 23 35 2.2 1.5 1.4 1.6 3.6 1.4 2.2

Hispanic or Latino 1....................... 13,264 720 340 380 17.9 18.8 20.3 17.7 5.4 2.6 2.9

 Men........................................... 7,703 326 154 172 10.4 8.5 9.2 8.0 4.2 2.0 2.2

 Women...................................... 5,561 394 186 208 7.5 10.3 11.1 9.7 7.1 3.3 3.7

 

FULL- AND PART-TIME 

STATUS AND SEX 

 

Full-time workers 2......................... 53,594 1,274 522 752 72.5 33.3 31.1 34.9 2.4 1.0 1.4

 Men........................................... 29,292 501 205 296 39.6 13.1 12.2 13.8 1.7 0.7 1.0

 Women...................................... 24,302 773 317 456 32.9 20.2 18.9 21.2 3.2 1.3 1.9

 

Part-time workers 2........................ 20,199 2,545 1,153 1,392 27.3 66.5 68.8 64.7 12.6 5.7 6.9

 Men........................................... 7,103 932 443 489 9.6 24.3 26.4 22.7 13.1 6.2 6.9

 Women...................................... 13,096 1,615 711 904 17.7 42.2 42.4 42.0 12.3 5.4 6.9

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.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Characteristic Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

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

 

 Northeast......................... 12,755 619 255 364 17.3 16.2 15.2 16.9 4.9 2.0 2.9

 New England................... 3,629 128 26 102 4.9 3.3 1.6 4.7 3.5 0.7 2.8

 Middle Atlantic............... 9,126 490 228 262 12.3 12.8 13.6 12.2 5.4 2.5 2.9

 Midwest......................... 18,135 910 354 556 24.5 23.8 21.1 25.8 5.0 2.0 3.1

 East North Central.......... 12,311 562 171 391 16.7 14.7 10.2 18.2 4.6 1.4 3.2

 West North Central......... 5,823 349 183 166 7.9 9.1 10.9 7.7 6.0 3.1 2.9

 South.............................. 25,652 1,845 912 933 34.7 48.2 54.4 43.4 7.2 3.6 3.6

 South Atlantic................ 12,806 895 393 502 17.3 23.4 23.4 23.3 7.0 3.1 3.9

 East South Central.......... 4,365 297 158 139 5.9 7.8 9.4 6.5 6.8 3.6 3.2

 West South Central......... 8,481 654 362 292 11.5 17.1 21.6 13.6 7.7 4.3 3.4

 West.............................. 17,385 454 156 298 23.5 11.9 9.3 13.8 2.6 0.9 1.7

 Mountain....................... 5,450 252 83 169 7.4 6.6 4.9 7.9 4.6 1.5 3.1

 Pacific.......................... 11,935 203 73 130 16.1 5.3 4.4 6.0 1.7 0.6 1.1

 

 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

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Region and division Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

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....................... 1,147 74 43 31 1.6 1.9 2.6 1.4 6.5 3.7 2.7

Alaska.......................... 212 4 1 3 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.9 0.5 1.4

Arizona.......................... 1,517 85 20 65 2.1 2.2 1.2 3.0 5.6 1.3 4.3

Arkansas....................... 746 49 33 16 1.0 1.3 2.0 0.7 6.6 4.4 2.1

California....................... 8,706 139 53 86 11.8 3.6 3.2 4.0 1.6 0.6 1.0

Colorado....................... 1,222 49 9 40 1.7 1.3 0.5 1.9 4.0 0.7 3.3

Connecticut.................... 870 25 4 21 1.2 0.7 0.2 1.0 2.9 0.5 2.4

Delaware....................... 213 11 3 8 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.4 5.2 1.4 3.8

District of Columbia......... 94 4 1 3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 4.3 1.1 3.2

Florida.......................... 3,891 246 73 173 5.3 6.4 4.4 8.0 6.3 1.9 4.4

Georgia.......................... 2,041 196 105 91 2.8 5.1 6.3 4.2 9.6 5.1 4.5

Hawaii.......................... 321 15 8 7 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.3 4.7 2.5 2.2

Idaho............................. 379 19 12 7 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.3 5.0 3.2 1.8

Illinois............................ 3,095 109 29 80 4.2 2.8 1.7 3.7 3.5 0.9 2.6

Indiana.......................... 1,730 108 54 54 2.3 2.8 3.2 2.5 6.2 3.1 3.1

Iowa............................. 941 53 28 25 1.3 1.4 1.7 1.2 5.6 3.0 2.7

Kansas.......................... 802 56 27 29 1.1 1.5 1.6 1.3 7.0 3.4 3.6

Kentucky....................... 1,077 63 30 33 1.5 1.6 1.8 1.5 5.8 2.8 3.1

Louisiana...................... 1,011 75 33 42 1.4 2.0 2.0 2.0 7.4 3.3 4.2

Maine........................... 381 14 3 11 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.5 3.7 0.8 2.9

Maryland....................... 1,274 65 27 38 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.8 5.1 2.1 3.0

Massachusetts............... 1,539 60 11 49 2.1 1.6 0.7 2.3 3.9 0.7 3.2

Michigan....................... 2,550 117 29 88 3.4 3.1 1.7 4.1 4.6 1.1 3.5

Minnesota....................... 1,544 78 47 31 2.1 2.0 2.8 1.4 5.1 3.0 2.0

Mississippi..................... 686 58 37 21 0.9 1.5 2.2 1.0 8.5 5.4 3.1

Missouri........................ 1,543 109 54 55 2.1 2.8 3.2 2.6 7.1 3.5 3.6

Montana........................ 271 10 6 4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.2 3.7 2.2 1.5

Nebraska......................... 532 29 15 14 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.7 5.5 2.8 2.6

Nevada.......................... 670 22 9 13 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.6 3.3 1.3 1.9

New Hampshire.............. 368 14 4 10 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.5 3.8 1.1 2.7

New Jersey.................... 1,795 99 41 58 2.4 2.6 2.4 2.7 5.5 2.3 3.2

New Mexico.................... 459 20 6 14 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.7 4.4 1.3 3.1

New York....................... 3,930 199 91 108 5.3 5.2 5.4 5.0 5.1 2.3 2.7

North Carolina................. 2,055 140 65 75 2.8 3.7 3.9 3.5 6.8 3.2 3.6

North Dakota.................. 208 11 6 5 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2 5.3 2.9 2.4

Ohio............................. 3,224 150 27 123 4.4 3.9 1.6 5.7 4.7 0.8 3.8

Oklahoma....................... 828 56 36 20 1.1 1.5 2.1 0.9 6.8 4.3 2.4

Oregon.......................... 1,010 12 4 8 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.2 0.4 0.8

Pennsylvania................. 3,400 193 97 96 4.6 5.0 5.8 4.5 5.7 2.9 2.8

Rhode Island.................. 289 11 3 8 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 3.8 1.0 2.8

South Carolina................. 1,078 79 42 37 1.5 2.1 2.5 1.7 7.3 3.9 3.4

South Dakota................. 253 13 7 6 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 5.1 2.8 2.4

Tennessee.................... 1,455 101 48 53 2.0 2.6 2.9 2.5 6.9 3.3 3.6

Texas........................... 5,896 473 259 214 8.0 12.4 15.4 9.9 8.0 4.4 3.6

Utah............................. 765 35 15 20 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 4.6 2.0 2.6

Vermont........................ 182 4 1 3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 2.2 0.5 1.6

Virginia.......................... 1,697 121 57 64 2.3 3.2 3.4 3.0 7.1 3.4 3.8

Washington.................... 1,686 31 6 25 2.3 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.8 0.4 1.5

West Virginia.................. 462 34 20 14 0.6 0.9 1.2 0.7 7.4 4.3 3.0

Wisconsin...................... 1,711 78 32 46 2.3 2.0 1.9 2.1 4.6 1.9 2.7

Wyoming....................... 167 10 5 5 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 6.0 3.0 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.

State Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

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

Management, professional, and related 

 occupations..................................... 15,524 195 89 106 21.0 5.1 5.3 4.9 1.3 0.6 0.7

 Management, business, and financial

 operations occupations...................... 4,300 48 11 37 5.8 1.3 0.7 1.7 1.1 0.3 0.9

 Professional and related occupations...... 11,224 147 78 69 15.2 3.8 4.7 3.2 1.3 0.7 0.6

Service occupations............................... 17,800 2,322 742 1,580 24.1 60.6 44.2 73.4 13.0 4.2 8.9

 Healthcare support occupations.............. 2,700 98 52 46 3.7 2.6 3.1 2.1 3.6 1.9 1.7

 Protective service occupations.............. 2,028 61 22 39 2.7 1.6 1.3 1.8 3.0 1.1 1.9

 Food preparation and serving related

 occupations.................................... 6,710 1,653 422 1,231 9.1 43.2 25.2 57.2 24.6 6.3 18.3

 Building and grounds cleaning and 

 maintenance occupations.................. 3,618 211 111 100 4.9 5.5 6.6 4.6 5.8 3.1 2.8

 Personal care and service occupations.. 2,745 299 135 164 3.7 7.8 8.1 7.6 10.9 4.9 6.0

Sales and office occupations................... 19,987 856 617 239 27.0 22.4 36.8 11.1 4.3 3.1 1.2

 Sales and related occupations................ 7,813 600 441 159 10.6 15.7 26.3 7.4 7.7 5.6 2.0

 Office and administrative support 

 occupations.................................... 12,174 257 177 80 16.5 6.7 10.6 3.7 2.1 1.5 0.7

Natural resources, construction, and 

 maintenance occupations................. 8,221 96 48 48 11.1 2.5 2.9 2.2 1.2 0.6 0.6

 Farming, fishing, and forestry

 occupations.................................... 675 42 24 18 0.9 1.1 1.4 0.8 6.2 3.6 2.7

 Construction and extraction

 occupations.................................... 4,332 28 13 15 5.9 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.3

 Installation, maintenance, and 

 repair occupations.............................. 3,214 26 11 15 4.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.5

Production, transportation, and 

 material moving occupations.............. 12,394 360 181 179 16.8 9.4 10.8 8.3 2.9 1.5 1.4

 Production occupations....................... 6,485 100 53 47 8.8 2.6 3.2 2.2 1.5 0.8 0.7

 Transportation and material moving

 occupations.................................... 5,909 260 128 132 8.0 6.8 7.6 6.1 4.4 2.2 2.2

 

 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.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Occupation Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

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

 Private sector....................................... 64,525 3,625 1,577 2,048 87.3 94.7 94.0 95.2 5.6 2.4 3.2

 Agriculture and related industries............ 775 41 20 21 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.0 5.3 2.6 2.7

 Nonagricultural industries.................... 63,750 3,584 1,557 2,027 86.2 93.6 92.8 94.2 5.6 2.4 3.2

 Mining............................................. 489 3 2 1 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.4 0.2

 Construction................................... 4,304 41 15 26 5.8 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.0 0.3 0.6

 Manufacturing................................. 8,556 91 47 44 11.6 2.4 2.8 2.0 1.1 0.5 0.5

 Durable goods .............................. 5,264 41 18 23 7.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 0.8 0.3 0.4

 Nondurable goods ........................ 3,292 50 29 21 4.5 1.3 1.7 1.0 1.5 0.9 0.6

 Wholesale and retail trade................. 12,423 669 463 206 16.8 17.5 27.6 9.6 5.4 3.7 1.7

 Wholesale trade............................ 1,689 27 17 10 2.3 0.7 1.0 0.5 1.6 1.0 0.6

 Retail trade.................................. 10,734 642 446 196 14.5 16.8 26.6 9.1 6.0 4.2 1.8

 Transportation and utilities................. 3,069 46 22 24 4.2 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.5 0.7 0.8

 Information..................................... 1,273 36 18 18 1.7 0.9 1.1 0.8 2.8 1.4 1.4

 Financial activities........................... 3,228 40 25 15 4.4 1.0 1.5 0.7 1.2 0.8 0.5

 Professional and business services...... 5,857 157 85 72 7.9 4.1 5.1 3.3 2.7 1.5 1.2

 Education and health services............ 12,636 355 185 170 17.1 9.3 11.0 7.9 2.8 1.5 1.3

 Leisure and hospitality........................ 8,943 1,963 610 1,353 12.1 51.3 36.4 62.9 22.0 6.8 15.1

 Other services................................. 2,970 183 86 97 4.0 4.8 5.1 4.5 6.2 2.9 3.3

 Public sector....................................... 9,401 204 100 104 12.7 5.3 6.0 4.8 2.2 1.1 1.1

 Federal........................................... 1,770 20 12 8 2.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 1.1 0.7 0.5

 State................................................ 2,604 65 37 28 3.5 1.7 2.2 1.3 2.5 1.4 1.1

 Local................................................ 5,026 119 50 69 6.8 3.1 3.0 3.2 2.4 1.0 1.4

 

 NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Industry Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

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

 Less than a high school diploma............... 9,562 1,061 582 479 12.9 27.7 34.7 22.3 11.1 6.1 5.0

 Less than 1 year of high school............. 2,794 182 95 87 3.8 4.8 5.7 4.0 6.5 3.4 3.1

 1 to 3 years of high school..................... 5,631 773 427 346 7.6 20.2 25.5 16.1 13.7 7.6 6.1

 4 years of high school, no diploma......... 1,137 106 60 46 1.5 2.8 3.6 2.1 9.3 5.3 4.0

 High school graduates or more................ 64,364 2,767 1,094 1,673 87.1 72.3 65.2 77.7 4.3 1.7 2.6

 High school graduates, no college......... 25,710 1,179 532 647 34.8 30.8 31.7 30.1 4.6 2.1 2.5

 Some college or associate degree........ 25,858 1,309 500 809 35.0 34.2 29.8 37.6 5.1 1.9 3.1

 Some college, no degree.................. 17,178 1,057 422 635 23.2 27.6 25.2 29.5 6.2 2.5 3.7

 Associate degree.............................. 8,680 253 79 174 11.7 6.6 4.7 8.1 2.9 0.9 2.0

 Occupational program..................... 4,021 93 35 58 5.4 2.4 2.1 2.7 2.3 0.9 1.4

 Academic program........................ 4,659 158 43 115 6.3 4.1 2.6 5.3 3.4 0.9 2.5

 Bachelor's degree and higher............... 12,796 279 62 217 17.3 7.3 3.7 10.1 2.2 0.5 1.7

 Bachelor's degree........................... 9,984 248 55 193 13.5 6.5 3.3 9.0 2.5 0.6 1.9

 Master's degree.............................. 2,230 24 6 18 3.0 0.6 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.3 0.8

 Professional degree........................ 293 6 – 6 0.4 0.2 – 0.3 2.0 – 2.0

 Doctoral degree.............................. 289 1 1 – 0.4 0.0 0.1 – 0.3 0.3 –

 

 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.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Educational attainment Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

BOTH SEXES

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

 Under 25 years.................. 14,436 1,896 893 1,003 19.5 49.5 53.2 46.6 13.1 6.2 6.9

 16 to 19 years.................. 3,936 899 491 408 5.3 23.5 29.3 19.0 22.8 12.5 10.4

 20 to 24 years.................. 10,501 997 402 595 14.2 26.0 24.0 27.6 9.5 3.8 5.7

 25 years and over............... 59,490 1,933 784 1,149 80.5 50.5 46.8 53.4 3.2 1.3 1.9

 25 to 34 years.................. 17,155 808 299 509 23.2 21.1 17.8 23.7 4.7 1.7 3.0

 25 to 29 years............... 9,229 460 170 290 12.5 12.0 10.1 13.5 5.0 1.8 3.1

 30 to 34 years............... 7,926 348 129 219 10.7 9.1 7.7 10.2 4.4 1.6 2.8

 35 to 44 years.................. 14,168 399 161 238 19.2 10.4 9.6 11.1 2.8 1.1 1.7

 35 to 39 years............... 6,889 205 75 130 9.3 5.4 4.5 6.0 3.0 1.1 1.9

 40 to 44 years............... 7,279 194 86 108 9.8 5.1 5.1 5.0 2.7 1.2 1.5

 45 to 54 years.................. 15,331 382 159 223 20.7 10.0 9.5 10.4 2.5 1.0 1.5

 45 to 49 years............... 7,793 208 82 126 10.5 5.4 4.9 5.9 2.7 1.1 1.6

 50 to 54 years............... 7,537 175 78 97 10.2 4.6 4.7 4.5 2.3 1.0 1.3

 55 to 64 years.................. 10,046 221 117 104 13.6 5.8 7.0 4.8 2.2 1.2 1.0

 55 to 59 years............... 6,135 123 66 57 8.3 3.2 3.9 2.6 2.0 1.1 0.9

 60 to 64 years............... 3,911 98 51 47 5.3 2.6 3.0 2.2 2.5 1.3 1.2

 65 years and over............ 2,790 123 48 75 3.8 3.2 2.9 3.5 4.4 1.7 2.7

 65 to 69 years............... 1,569 68 27 41 2.1 1.8 1.6 1.9 4.3 1.7 2.6

 70 years and over......... 1,220 55 21 34 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.6 4.5 1.7 2.8

MEN

Total, 16 years and over...... 36,457 1,433 648 785 49.3 37.4 38.6 36.5 3.9 1.8 2.2

 Under 25 years.................. 7,290 787 388 399 9.9 20.6 23.1 18.5 10.8 5.3 5.5

 16 to 19 years.................. 1,872 373 212 161 2.5 9.7 12.6 7.5 19.9 11.3 8.6

 20 to 24 years.................. 5,418 413 175 238 7.3 10.8 10.4 11.1 7.6 3.2 4.4

 25 years and over............... 29,167 647 260 387 39.5 16.9 15.5 18.0 2.2 0.9 1.3

 25 to 34 years.................. 9,132 278 96 182 12.4 7.3 5.7 8.5 3.0 1.1 2.0

 25 to 29 years............... 4,893 157 53 104 6.6 4.1 3.2 4.8 3.2 1.1 2.1

 30 to 34 years............... 4,238 122 43 79 5.7 3.2 2.6 3.7 2.9 1.0 1.9

 35 to 44 years.................. 7,036 142 56 86 9.5 3.7 3.3 4.0 2.0 0.8 1.2

 35 to 39 years............... 3,471 74 26 48 4.7 1.9 1.6 2.2 2.1 0.7 1.4

 40 to 44 years............... 3,565 67 30 37 4.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.9 0.8 1.0

 45 to 54 years.................. 7,167 113 55 58 9.7 3.0 3.3 2.7 1.6 0.8 0.8

 45 to 49 years............... 3,689 61 30 31 5.0 1.6 1.8 1.4 1.7 0.8 0.8

 50 to 54 years............... 3,477 51 24 27 4.7 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.5 0.7 0.8

 55 to 64 years.................. 4,491 72 36 36 6.1 1.9 2.1 1.7 1.6 0.8 0.8

 55 to 59 years............... 2,814 42 23 19 3.8 1.1 1.4 0.9 1.5 0.8 0.7

 60 to 64 years............... 1,677 30 13 17 2.3 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 0.8 1.0

 65 years and over............ 1,341 42 17 25 1.8 1.1 1.0 1.2 3.1 1.3 1.9

 65 to 69 years............... 754 21 10 11 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.5 2.8 1.3 1.5

 70 years and over......... 587 22 7 15 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.7 3.7 1.2 2.6

WOMEN

Total, 16 years and over...... 37,469 2,395 1,029 1,366 50.7 62.5 61.4 63.5 6.4 2.7 3.6

 Under 25 years.................. 7,147 1,109 505 604 9.7 29.0 30.1 28.1 15.5 7.1 8.5

 16 to 19 years.................. 2,064 526 279 247 2.8 13.7 16.6 11.5 25.5 13.5 12.0

 20 to 24 years.................. 5,083 583 226 357 6.9 15.2 13.5 16.6 11.5 4.4 7.0

 25 years and over............... 30,323 1,286 524 762 41.0 33.6 31.2 35.4 4.2 1.7 2.5

 25 to 34 years.................. 8,024 528 202 326 10.9 13.8 12.0 15.1 6.6 2.5 4.1

 25 to 29 years............... 4,336 303 117 186 5.9 7.9 7.0 8.6 7.0 2.7 4.3

 30 to 34 years............... 3,688 225 85 140 5.0 5.9 5.1 6.5 6.1 2.3 3.8

 35 to 44 years.................. 7,132 257 105 152 9.6 6.7 6.3 7.1 3.6 1.5 2.1

 35 to 39 years............... 3,418 131 49 82 4.6 3.4 2.9 3.8 3.8 1.4 2.4

 40 to 44 years............... 3,714 126 56 70 5.0 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 1.5 1.9

 45 to 54 years.................. 8,164 270 105 165 11.0 7.1 6.3 7.7 3.3 1.3 2.0

 45 to 49 years............... 4,104 146 51 95 5.6 3.8 3.0 4.4 3.6 1.2 2.3

 50 to 54 years............... 4,060 123 53 70 5.5 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.0 1.3 1.7

 55 to 64 years.................. 5,555 150 81 69 7.5 3.9 4.8 3.2 2.7 1.5 1.2

 55 to 59 years............... 3,321 80 42 38 4.5 2.1 2.5 1.8 2.4 1.3 1.1

 60 to 64 years............... 2,233 68 38 30 3.0 1.8 2.3 1.4 3.0 1.7 1.3

 65 years and over............ 1,448 81 31 50 2.0 2.1 1.8 2.3 5.6 2.1 3.5

 65 to 69 years............... 815 46 16 30 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.4 5.6 2.0 3.7

 70 years and over......... 633 33 14 19 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.9 5.2 2.2 3.0

 NOTE: Data exclude all self-employed persons whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Age and sex Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

BOTH SEXES

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

 Never married............... 26,703 2,462 1,097 1,365 36.1 64.3 65.4 63.4 9.2 4.1 5.1

 16 to 24 years............... 12,847 1,751 835 916 17.4 45.7 49.8 42.6 13.6 6.5 7.1

 25 years and over......... 13,855 711 262 449 18.7 18.6 15.6 20.9 5.1 1.9 3.2

 25 to 54 years............ 12,827 660 239 421 17.4 17.2 14.3 19.6 5.1 1.9 3.3

 Married, spouse present... 34,624 836 358 478 46.8 21.8 21.3 22.2 2.4 1.0 1.4

 16 to 24 years............... 1,143 89 40 49 1.5 2.3 2.4 2.3 7.8 3.5 4.3

 25 years and over......... 33,481 748 318 430 45.3 19.5 19.0 20.0 2.2 0.9 1.3

 25 to 54 years............ 25,347 605 252 353 34.3 15.8 15.0 16.4 2.4 1.0 1.4

 Other marital status......... 12,599 531 222 309 17.0 13.9 13.2 14.4 4.2 1.8 2.5

 16 to 24 years............... 446 56 18 38 0.6 1.5 1.1 1.8 12.6 4.0 8.5

 25 years and over......... 12,153 475 204 271 16.4 12.4 12.2 12.6 3.9 1.7 2.2

 25 to 54 years............ 8,481 324 128 196 11.5 8.5 7.6 9.1 3.8 1.5 2.3

MEN

Total, 16 years and over.... 36,457 1,433 648 785 49.3 37.4 38.6 36.5 3.9 1.8 2.2

 Never married............... 14,132 1,019 457 562 19.1 26.6 27.3 26.1 7.2 3.2 4.0

 16 to 24 years............... 6,575 734 363 371 8.9 19.2 21.6 17.2 11.2 5.5 5.6

 25 years and over......... 7,557 285 94 191 10.2 7.4 5.6 8.9 3.8 1.2 2.5

 25 to 54 years............ 7,072 262 85 177 9.6 6.8 5.1 8.2 3.7 1.2 2.5

 Married, spouse present... 17,462 279 131 148 23.6 7.3 7.8 6.9 1.6 0.8 0.8

 16 to 24 years............... 518 33 16 17 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.8 6.4 3.1 3.3

 25 years and over......... 16,944 245 115 130 22.9 6.4 6.9 6.0 1.4 0.7 0.8

 25 to 54 years............ 12,765 188 85 103 17.3 4.9 5.1 4.8 1.5 0.7 0.8

 Other marital status......... 4,864 137 61 76 6.6 3.6 3.6 3.5 2.8 1.3 1.6

 16 to 24 years............... 197 20 9 11 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 10.2 4.6 5.6

 25 years and over......... 4,666 116 51 65 6.3 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.5 1.1 1.4

 25 to 54 years............ 3,497 82 36 46 4.7 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.3 1.0 1.3

WOMEN

Total, 16 years and over...... 37,469 2,395 1,029 1,366 50.7 62.5 61.4 63.5 6.4 2.7 3.6

 Never married............... 12,571 1,444 641 803 17.0 37.7 38.2 37.3 11.5 5.1 6.4

 16 to 24 years............... 6,273 1,018 473 545 8.5 26.6 28.2 25.3 16.2 7.5 8.7

 25 years and over......... 6,298 426 168 258 8.5 11.1 10.0 12.0 6.8 2.7 4.1

 25 to 54 years............ 5,754 399 154 245 7.8 10.4 9.2 11.4 6.9 2.7 4.3

 Married, spouse present... 17,162 557 227 330 23.2 14.5 13.5 15.3 3.2 1.3 1.9

 16 to 24 years............... 625 55 24 31 0.8 1.4 1.4 1.4 8.8 3.8 5.0

 25 years and over......... 16,537 502 203 299 22.4 13.1 12.1 13.9 3.0 1.2 1.8

 25 to 54 years............ 12,582 415 166 249 17.0 10.8 9.9 11.6 3.3 1.3 2.0

 Other marital status......... 7,736 394 161 233 10.5 10.3 9.6 10.8 5.1 2.1 3.0

 16 to 24 years............... 249 37 9 28 0.3 1.0 0.5 1.3 14.9 3.6 11.2

 25 years and over......... 7,487 357 152 205 10.1 9.3 9.1 9.5 4.8 2.0 2.7

 25 to 54 years............ 4,983 242 92 150 6.7 6.3 5.5 7.0 4.9 1.8 3.0

 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.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Marital status, age, 

and sex Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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) Percent distribution Percent of workers paid 

hourly rates

At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage At or below minimum wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

wage

Total

At 

minimum 

wage

Below 

minimum 

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

 Hours vary..................... 4,962 491 198 293 6.7 12.8 11.8 13.6 9.9 4.0 5.9

 0 to 34 hours.................. 18,127 2,251 1,029 1,222 24.5 58.8 61.4 56.8 12.4 5.7 6.7

 0 to 4 hours.................. 411 59 22 37 0.6 1.5 1.3 1.7 14.4 5.4 9.0

 5 to 9 hours.................. 992 146 63 83 1.3 3.8 3.8 3.9 14.7 6.4 8.4

 10 to 14 hours............... 1,550 211 128 83 2.1 5.5 7.6 3.9 13.6 8.3 5.4

 15 to 19 hours............... 2,284 363 184 179 3.1 9.5 11.0 8.3 15.9 8.1 7.8

 20 to 24 hours............... 5,272 673 337 336 7.1 17.6 20.1 15.6 12.8 6.4 6.4

 25 to 29 hours............... 2,610 314 121 193 3.5 8.2 7.2 9.0 12.0 4.6 7.4

 30 to 34 hours............... 5,006 484 173 311 6.8 12.6 10.3 14.5 9.7 3.5 6.2

 35 hours or more............... 50,837 1,087 450 637 68.8 28.4 26.8 29.6 2.1 0.9 1.3

 35 to 39 hours............... 6,050 343 134 209 8.2 9.0 8.0 9.7 5.7 2.2 3.5

 40 hours or more............ 44,787 743 316 427 60.6 19.4 18.8 19.8 1.7 0.7 1.0

 40 hours..................... 39,231 653 286 367 53.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 1.7 0.7 0.9

 41 hours or more............ 5,557 90 30 60 7.5 2.4 1.8 2.8 1.6 0.5 1.1

 41 to 44 hours............ 659 12 3 9 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.8 0.5 1.4

 45 to 48 hours............ 1,885 31 9 22 2.5 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.6 0.5 1.2

 49 to 59 hours............ 2,038 26 6 20 2.8 0.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.3 1.0

 60 hours or more......... 975 20 11 9 1.3 0.5 0.7 0.4 2.1 1.1 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.

Total paid 

hourly 

rates

Usual hours worked per 

week on primary job Total paid 

hourly 

rates
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

BOTH SEXES

1979........................ 87,529 51,721 59.1 2,916 3,997 6,912 13.4

1980........................ 87,644 51,335 58.6 3,087 4,686 7,773 15.1

1981...................... 88,516 51,869 58.6 3,513 4,311 7,824 15.1

1982........................ 87,368 50,846 58.2 2,348 4,148 6,496 12.8

1983........................ 88,290 51,820 58.7 2,077 4,261 6,338 12.2

1984........................ 92,194 54,143 58.7 1,838 4,125 5,963 11.0

1985........................ 94,521 55,762 59.0 1,639 3,899 5,538 9.9

1986 1..................... 96,903 57,529 59.4 1,599 3,461 5,060 8.8

1987........................ 99,303 59,552 60.0 1,468 3,229 4,698 7.9

1988........................ 101,407 60,878 60.0 1,319 2,608 3,927 6.5

1989........................ 103,480 62,389 60.3 1,372 1,790 3,162 5.1

1990 1..................... 104,876 63,172 60.2 22,132 21,096 23,228 25.1

1991........................ 103,723 62,627 60.4 22,377 22,906 25,283 28.4

1992........................ 104,668 63,610 60.8 1,939 2,982 4,921 7.7

1993........................ 106,101 64,274 60.6 1,707 2,625 4,332 6.7

1994 1..................... 107,989 66,549 61.6 1,995 2,132 4,128 6.2

1995........................ 110,038 68,354 62.1 1,699 1,956 3,656 5.3

1996........................ 111,960 69,255 61.9 21,863 21,861 23,724 25.4

1997 1..................... 114,533 70,735 61.8 22,990 21,764 24,754 26.7

1998 1..................... 116,730 71,440 61.2 2,834 1,593 4,427 6.2

1999 1..................... 118,963 72,306 60.8 2,194 1,146 3,340 4.6

2000 1..................... 122,089 73,496 60.2 1,752 898 2,650 3.6

2001........................ 122,229 73,392 60.0 1,518 656 2,174 3.0

2002........................ 121,826 72,508 59.5 1,579 567 2,146 3.0

2003 1..................... 122,358 72,946 59.6 1,555 545 2,100 2.9

2004 1..................... 123,554 73,939 59.8 1,483 520 2,003 2.7

2005........................ 125,889 75,609 60.1 1,403 479 1,882 2.5

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

Number

Percent

of hourly

paid

workers

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

2005........................ 125,889 75,609 60.1 1,403 479 1,882 2.5

2006........................ 128,237 76,514 59.7 1,283 409 1,692 2.2

2007........................ 129,767 75,873 58.5 21,462 2267 21,729 22.3

2008 1..................... 129,377 75,305 58.2 21,940 2286 22,226 23.0

2009 1.................... 124,490 72,611 58.3 22,592 2980 23,572 24.9

2010........................ 124,073 72,902 58.8 2,541 1,820 4,361 6.0

2011........................ 125,187 73,926 59.1 2,152 1,677 3,829 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

MEN

1979........................ 49,400 28,392 57.5 846 1,353 2,199 7.7

1980........................ 48,700 27,709 56.9 983 1,696 2,678 9.7

1981...................... 48,844 27,576 56.5 1,119 1,533 2,652 9.6

1982........................ 47,591 26,481 55.6 697 1,587 2,284 8.6

1983........................ 47,856 26,831 56.1 585 1,658 2,243 8.4

1984........................ 50,022 28,140 56.3 490 1,626 2,116 7.5

1985........................ 51,015 28,893 56.6 440 1,544 1,984 6.9

1986 1..................... 51,942 29,666 57.1 408 1,336 1,743 5.9

1987........................ 52,938 30,474 57.6 364 1,283 1,647 5.4

1988........................ 53,912 31,058 57.6 311 1,066 1,377 4.4

1989........................ 54,789 31,687 57.8 379 733 1,112 3.5

1990 1..................... 55,553 32,104 57.8 2712 2385 21,097 23.4

1991........................ 54,618 31,639 57.9 2795 21,114 21,909 26.0

1992........................ 54,826 32,155 58.6 653 1,231 1,885 5.9

1993........................ 55,475 32,337 58.3 573 1,091 1,664 5.1

1994 1..................... 56,570 33,528 59.3 674 891 1,565 4.7

1995........................ 57,669 34,420 59.7 542 796 1,338 3.9

1996........................ 58,473 34,838 59.6 2619 2755 21,374 23.9

1997 1..................... 59,825 35,521 59.4 21,147 2673 21,820 25.1

1998 1..................... 60,973 35,761 58.7 1,039 628 1,667 4.7

1999 1..................... 61,914 36,073 58.3 768 446 1,214 3.4

2000 1..................... 63,662 36,720 57.7 582 319 901 2.5

2001........................ 63,647 36,544 57.4 497 247 744 2.0

2002........................ 63,272 36,000 56.9 582 217 799 2.2

2003 1..................... 63,236 35,853 56.7 493 213 706 2.0

2004 1..................... 64,145 36,806 57.4 470 210 680 1.8

2005........................ 65,466 37,652 57.5 459 189 648 1.7

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

Number

Percent

of hourly

paid

workers

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

2005........................ 65,466 37,652 57.5 459 189 648 1.7

2006........................ 66,811 38,193 57.2 422 146 568 1.5

2007........................ 67,468 37,790 56.0 2460 286 2546 21.4

2008 1..................... 66,846 37,334 55.9 2638 290 2728 21.9

2009 1.................... 63,539 35,185 55.4 2990 2368 21,358 23.9

2010........................ 63,531 35,498 55.9 943 669 1,612 4.5

2011........................ 64,686 36,457 56.4 785 648 1,433 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

WOMEN

1979........................ 38,129 23,329 61.2 2,070 2,644 4,714 20.2

1980........................ 38,944 23,626 60.7 2,104 2,990 5,095 21.6

1981...................... 39,672 24,294 61.2 2,394 2,778 5,172 21.3

1982........................ 39,777 24,365 61.3 1,651 2,561 4,212 17.3

1983........................ 40,433 24,989 61.8 1,492 2,603 4,095 16.4

1984........................ 42,172 26,003 61.7 1,348 2,499 3,847 14.8

1985........................ 43,506 26,869 61.8 1,198 2,356 3,554 13.2

1986 1..................... 44,961 27,863 62.0 1,192 2,125 3,317 11.9

1987........................ 46,365 29,078 62.7 1,105 1,946 3,051 10.5

1988........................ 47,495 29,820 62.8 1,008 1,542 2,550 8.6

1989........................ 48,691 30,702 63.1 994 1,056 2,050 6.7

1990 1..................... 49,323 31,069 63.0 21,420 2711 22,131 26.9

1991........................ 49,105 30,988 63.1 21,582 21,792 23,374 210.9

1992........................ 49,842 31,454 63.1 1,286 1,751 3,036 9.7

1993........................ 50,626 31,937 63.1 1,133 1,534 2,667 8.4

1994 1..................... 51,419 33,021 64.2 1,322 1,241 2,563 7.8

1995........................ 52,369 33,934 64.8 1,157 1,161 2,318 6.8

1996........................ 53,488 34,418 64.3 21,244 21,106 22,350 26.8

1997 1..................... 54,708 35,214 64.4 21,843 21,092 22,935 28.3

1998 1..................... 55,757 35,680 64.0 1,794 965 2,760 7.7

1999 1..................... 57,050 36,233 63.5 1,426 700 2,126 5.9

2000 1..................... 58,427 36,777 62.9 1,170 579 1,749 4.8

2001........................ 58,582 36,848 62.9 1,021 409 1,430 3.9

2002........................ 58,555 36,508 62.3 997 350 1,347 3.7

2003 1..................... 59,122 37,093 62.7 1,062 332 1,394 3.8

2004 1..................... 59,408 37,133 62.5 1,013 310 1,323 3.6

2005........................ 60,423 37,957 62.8 944 290 1,234 3.3

Year and sex

Total

wage and

salary

workers Total

Percent of 

total wage 

and salary

workers Number

Percent

of hourly

paid

workers

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum 

wage

At 

prevailing

Federal

minimum 

wage

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

2005........................ 60,423 37,957 62.8 944 290 1,234 3.3

2006........................ 61,426 38,321 62.4 861 263 1,124 2.9

2007........................ 62,299 38,082 61.1 21,002 2181 21,183 23.1

2008 1..................... 62,532 37,972 60.7 21,302 2196 21,498 23.9

2009 1.................... 60,951 37,426 61.4 21,603 2612 22,215 25.9

2010........................ 60,542 37,404 61.8 1,598 1,151 2,749 7.3

2011........................ 60,502 37,469 61.9 1,366 1,029 2,395 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.