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.

In 20220232, about ******* wage and salary workers aged between 16 to 24 years were paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States. This can be compared to the ******* in the next age group of 25 to 34 years who made the same hourly rates.

In 1979, about 3.99 million workers were paid hourly rates at the official minimum wage. In 2023, about 81,000 workers were paid hourly rates at the prevailing minimum wage. The prevailing Federal minimum wage was 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour in 2023.

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, nonfarm, workers, hours, federal, wages, 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.

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 2023, about ****** workers in the manufacturing sector were paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage. The most workers at this earning level were in the leisure and hospitality industry at ******* workers earning minimum wage or less.

Wages in the United States increased to 31.34 USD/Hour in July from 31.26 USD/Hour in June of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Average Hourly Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages in the United States increased 5.35 percent in July of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Wages and Salaries Growth - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This statistic shows the percentage of workers paid hourly rates at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States in 2023, by industry. In 2023, around *** percent of all workers in agriculture-related industries were paid at or below the prevailing federal minimum wage.

In 2023, around *** percent of hourly wage workers in Rhode Island earned wages at or below the federal minimum wage. This was the highest share of any U.S. state, followed by the District of Columbia with *** percent of hourly wage workers making minimum wage or less.

Key information about United States Monthly Earnings

• United States Monthly Earnings stood at 4,901 USD in Feb 2025, compared with the previous figure of 4,887 USD in Jan 2025
• US Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025, with an average number of 3,469 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 4,901 USD in Feb 2025 and a record low of 2,743 USD in Mar 2006

• In the latest reports, US Population reached 341 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of US increased to 4 % in Feb 2025
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 62 % in Feb 2025

United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid Below Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: High School Graduates, no College was 28.80000 % of Total Paid Below Minimum Wage in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid Below Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: High School Graduates, no College reached a record high of 36.30000 in January of 2022 and a record low of 28.00000 in January of 2014. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid Below Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: High School Graduates, no College - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for State Minimum Wage Rate for California (STTMINWGCA) from 1968 to 2025 about minimum wage, wages, CA, rate, and USA.

United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Less than 1 Year of High School was 1.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Less than 1 Year of High School reached a record high of 105.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 1.00000 in January of 2022. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Less than 1 Year of High School - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for State Minimum Wage Rate for Wyoming (STTMINWGWY) from 1968 to 2023 about WY, minimum wage, wages, rate, and USA.

United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at or Below Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Occupational Program was 23.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at or Below Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Occupational Program reached a record high of 124.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 23.00000 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at or Below Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Occupational Program - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

This statistic shows the percent of workers paid hourly rates at or below prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States from 1980 to 2023, by gender. In 2023, only 1.5 percent of the female wage and salary workers were paid hourly rates at or below the federal minimum wage, compared to 21.6 percent in 1980.

United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Master's Degree was 3.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Master's Degree reached a record high of 11.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 1.00000 in January of 2005. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Prevailing Federal Minimum Wage: 16 Years and Over: Master's Degree - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for State Minimum Wage Rate for Georgia (STTMINWGGA) from 1972 to 2023 about minimum wage, GA, wages, rate, and USA.