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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Number of workers paid hourly rates below the federal minimum wage in the United States from 1979 to 2023, by gender
(in 1,000s)
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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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 Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/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. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/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). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/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)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Aug 2024, https://www.statista.com/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) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/ (last visited June 28, 2025)
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: https://www.statista.com/statistics/188536/workers-paid-below-the-federal-minimum-wage-by-gender-since-1979/
