The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States is 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, although the minimum wage varies from state to state. As of January 1, 2025, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at 17.5 U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by Washington, which had 16.66 U.S. dollars per hour as the state minimum wage. Minimum wage workers Minimum wage jobs are traditionally seen as “starter jobs” in the U.S., or first jobs for teenagers and young adults, and the number of people working minimum wage jobs has decreased from almost four million in 1979 to about 247,000 in 2020. However, the number of workers earning less than minimum wage in 2020 was significantly higher, at about 865,000. Minimum wage jobs Minimum wage jobs are primarily found in food preparation and serving occupations, as well as sales jobs (primarily in retail). Because the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, nor has it been increased since 2009, it is becoming harder and harder live off of a minimum wage wage job, and for those workers to afford essential things like rent.

Graph and download economic data for Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Private wage and salary workers: Accommodation and food services industries: 16 years and over (LEU0204861200A) from 2000 to 2024 about paid, accommodation, minimum wage, salaries, workers, 16 years +, federal, food, wages, services, private, employment, industry, and USA.

Minimum Wages in the United States remained unchanged at 7.25 USD/Hour in 2025 from 7.25 USD/Hour in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

When adjusted for inflation, the 2024 federal minimum wage in the United States is over 40 percent lower than the minimum wage in 1970. Although the real dollar minimum wage in 1970 was only 1.60 U.S. dollars, when expressed in nominal 2024 dollars this increases to 13.05 U.S. dollars. This is a significant difference from the federal minimum wage in 2024 of 7.25 U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Minimum Hourly Wage for Nonfarm Workers for the United States (FEDMINNFRWG) from Oct 1938 to Aug 2025 about per hour, minimum wage, hours, workers, nonfarm, federal, wages, and USA.

In an April 2024 online survey, an overwhelming majority of respondents in the United States said that **** U.S. dollars per hour is not enough for the average American worker to have a decent quality of life. The U.S. federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. Since then, many states have raised the wage, with a number of states having more than doubled the federal minimum.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Minimum Wage Rate under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (STTMINWGFG) from 1968 to 2025 about minimum wage, federal, wages, labor, rate, and USA.

In an online survey conducted in April 2024, around ** percent of respondents in the United States under 45 years old said that they strongly favored an increase in the federal minimum wage to ** U.S. dollars an hour. In comparison, around ** percent of survey participants in the ** and over age range said that they strongly supported a minimum wage increase to ** U.S. dollars per hour. The federal minimum wage is currently ***** per hour

United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 to 24 years was 44.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 to 24 years reached a record high of 955.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 44.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 to 24 years - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

In an online survey conducted in April 2024, around ** percent of respondents in the United States who identified as Republican said that they strongly supported an increase in the federal minimum wage to ** U.S. dollars an hour. In comparison, around ** percent of surveyed Democrats said that they were strongly in favor of a minimum wage increase. As of 2024, the federal minimum wage was **** U.S. dollars per hour.

In an online survey conducted in April 2024, around ** percent of respondents in the United States said that they strongly favored an increase in the federal minimum wage to * U.S. dollars per hour. In comparison, only ** percent of survey participants said that they strongly supported a minimum wage increase to ** U.S. dollars per hour. The federal minimum wage is currently ***** per hour.

United States - Employed: Paid below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: White was 603.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: White reached a record high of 2094.00000 in January of 2009 and a record low of 603.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: White - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Private wage and salary workers: Food services and drinking places industries: 16 years and over was 508.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Private wage and salary workers: Food services and drinking places industries: 16 years and over reached a record high of 1771.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 508.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Private wage and salary workers: Food services and drinking places industries: 16 years and over - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Federal wage and salary workers: 16 years and over (LEU0204926800A) from 2000 to 2024 about paid, minimum wage, salaries, workers, 16 years +, federal, wages, employment, and USA.

United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 25 years and over was 479.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 25 years and over reached a record high of 2225.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 479.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 25 years and over - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Women was 520.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Women reached a record high of 5172.00000 in January of 1981 and a record low of 520.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid total at or below prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Women - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Hispanic or Latino: Men was 6.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Hispanic or Latino: Men reached a record high of 154.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 6.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Hispanic or Latino: Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Asian: Women was 0.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Asian: Women reached a record high of 32.00000 in January of 2012 and a record low of 0.00000 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employed: Paid at prevailing federal minimum wage: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Asian: Women - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

In an April 2024 online survey, an overwhelming majority of respondents in the United States, regardless of which political party they identified with, said that **** U.S. dollars per hour is not enough for the average American worker to have a decent quality of life. The U.S. federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. Since then, many states have raised the wage, with a number of states having more than doubled the federal minimum.

In an April 2024online survey, around ** percent of women in the United States said that they strongly favored an increase in the federal minimum wage to ** U.S. dollars an hour. In comparison, around ** percent of male respondents said the same.