The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10 in 1980, and $3.35 in 1981–89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April 1990, to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, to $5.15 in September 1997, to $5.85 in July 2007, to $6.55 in July 2008, and to $7.25 in July 2009.
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U.S. share of workers paid minimum wage or less 1979-2023
In 2023, 1.1 percent of workers in the United States were paid hourly rates at or below the official minimum wage. This is a decrease from the previous year, when 1.3 percent of workers were paid at or below the official minimum wage.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August 15, 2024). Share of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/188206/share-of-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-or-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Share of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023." Chart. August 15, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/188206/share-of-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-or-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Share of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/188206/share-of-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-or-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Share of Wage and Salary Workers in The United States Paid Hourly Rates at or below The Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage from 1979 to 2023." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 15 Aug 2024, /statistics/188206/share-of-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-or-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Share of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/188206/share-of-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-or-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Share of wage and salary workers in the United States paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage from 1979 to 2023 [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/188206/share-of-workers-paid-hourly-rates-at-or-below-minimum-wage-since-1979/
