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, 2024, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at 17 U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by Washington, which had 16.28 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 Laborers' Average Hourly Rate of Wages, Weighted for United States (A08139USA052NNBR) from 1860 to 1891 about hours, wages, labor, rate, and USA.

In October 2024, the average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls in the United States stood at 35.46 U.S. dollars. The data have been seasonally adjusted. Employed persons are employees on nonfarm payrolls and consist of: persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week; persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family-operated enterprise; and persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs because of illness, vacation, bad weather, industrial dispute, or various personal reasons.

Wages in Manufacturing in the United States increased to 28.64 USD/Hour in February from 28.54 USD/Hour in January of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Average Hourly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States was 19.24 U.S. dollars. This is an increase from 1979, when median hourly earnings were at 4.44 U.S. dollars. Hourly Workers The United States national minimum wage is 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, which has been the minimum wage since 2009. However, each state has the agency to set their state minimum wage. Furthermore, some cities are able to create their minimum wage. Many argue that the minimum wage is too low and should be raised, because it is not considered a living wage. There has been a movement to raise the minimum wage to 15 U.S. dollars per hour, called “Fight for 15” which began in the early 2010s. While there has been no movement at the federal level, some states have moved to increase their minimum wages, with at least three states and the District of Columbia setting minimum wage rates at or above 15 dollars per hour. More recently, some proponents of increasing the minimum wage say that 15 dollars is too low, and lawmakers should strive toward a higher goal, especially given that a 2021 analysis found that the minimum wage in the U.S. should be 22.88 U.S. dollars if it grew at the same rate as economic productivity. Salary Workers On the other hand, salary workers in the United States do not get paid on an hourly basis. The median weekly earnings of salary workers have significantly increased since 1979. Asian salary workers had the highest hourly earnings in the U.S. in 2021. Among female salary workers, those ages 45 to 54 years old had the highest median hourly earnings in 2021, likewise for male salary workers.

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

In November 2024, the average hourly earnings of all employees in the United States was at 11.25 U.S. dollars. The data have been seasonally adjusted. The deflators used for constant-dollar earnings shown here come from the Consumer Price Indexes Programs. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Employees (CPI-U) is used to deflate the data for all employees. A comparison of the rate of wage growth versus the monthly inflation since 2020 rate can be accessed here. Real wages are wages that have been adjusted for inflation.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Manufacturing (CES3000000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, establishment survey, hours, wages, manufacturing, employment, and USA.

In 2023 in the United States, the median hourly rate of a worker's wage between 20 and 24 years old was 16.4 current U.S. dollars. Workers between the ages of 35 and 44 years old had the highest hourly wage in that year, at 21.2 current U.S. dollars.

This statistic shows the average hourly wage in occupations that required a certain skill set in the United States from 1990 to 2015, by required skill. In 2015, U.S. Americans working in occupations that required a high level of analytical skills earned 27 U.S. dollars per hour on average.

Wages in Manufacturing in Mexico decreased to 3.80 USD/Hour in January from 5.10 USD/Hour in December of 2024. This dataset provides - Mexico Average Wages in Manufacturing Index - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private (CEU0500000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, average, establishment survey, hours, wages, private, employment, and USA.

Average Hourly Earnings in the United States increased 0.30 percent in February of 2025 over the previous month. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Average Hourly Earnings - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a Hispanic worker's wage in the United States was 18.1 constant 2023 U.S. dollars. Black or African American workers earned the least on average, with an hourly wage of 18.1 U.S. dollars.

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 Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Retail Trade (CEU4200000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, establishment survey, hours, retail trade, wages, sales, retail, employment, and USA.

In 2023, the hourly earning of a man in the United States between 20 and 24 years old amounted to 17.13 U.S. dollars. Men between the ages of 45 and 54 years old earned the most in that year, with a median hourly wage of 22.79 current U.S. dollars.

United States - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private was 35.93000 $ per Hour in February of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private reached a record high of 35.93000 in February of 2025 and a record low of 20.05000 in March of 2006. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Nonfarm Business Sector: Real Hourly Compensation for All Workers (COMPRNFB) from Q1 1947 to Q4 2024 about per hour, compensation, sector, nonfarm, business, real, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Wage and Salary Workers Paid Hourly Rates: 16 Years and Over: Bachelor's Degree (BADEC5) from 2002 to 2023 about paid, tertiary schooling, salaries, workers, hours, 16 years +, education, wages, rate, and USA.