The prevailing federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10 in 1980, and $3.35 in 1981–89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April 1990, to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, to $5.15 in September 1997, to $5.85 in July 2007, to $6.55 in July 2008, and to $7.25 in July 2009.Â
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Workers earning under the federal minimum wage in the U.S. 1979-2024
In 2024, about ** workers were paid hourly wages below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States. This was the lowest number of workers paid under minimum wage in the U.S. since 1979.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (January 31, 2026). Number of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from /statistics/188196/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2024 (in 1,000s)." Chart. January 31, 2026. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 23, 2026. /statistics/188196/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Number of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2024 (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 23, 2026. /statistics/188196/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of Wage and Salary Workers Paid Hourly Rates below The Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage in The United States from 1979 to 2024 (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 31 Jan 2026, /statistics/188196/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Number of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2024 (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/188196/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/ (last visited July 23, 2026)
Number of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 31, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/188196/wage-and-salary-workers-paid-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
