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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U.S. workers paid below minimum wage 1979-2023, by gender
In the United States, significantly more women are paid below the federal minimum wage than men. In 2023, approximately 241,000 male workers were working for a wage below the federal minimum, compared to 548,000 women paid below minimum wage.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August 15, 2024). Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 27, 2026, from /statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s)." Chart. August 15, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 27, 2026. /statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2026. /statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of Workers Paid Hourly Rates below The Federal Minimum Wage in The United States from 1979 to 2023, by Gender (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 15 Aug 2024, /statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/ (last visited July 27, 2026)
Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender (in 1,000s) [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
