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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2003

Tables 1 - 10

Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage, 2003 annual averages:

  1. by selected characteristics
  2. by census region and division
  3. by State
  4. by major occupation group
  5. by major industry group
  6. by educational attainment
  7. by age and sex
  8. by marital status, age, and sex
  9. by usual hours worked per week
  10. by sex (1979-2003 annual averages)

Table 1. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by selected characteristics, 2003 annual averages
CharacteristicNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15
AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

16 to 24 years

15,8711,10633077621.852.760.649.97.02.14.9

16 to 19 years

5,4125342123227.425.438.920.79.93.95.9

25 years and over

57,07599521578078.247.439.450.21.70.41.4

Men, 16 years and over

35,85370621349349.233.639.131.72.00.61.4

16 to 24 years

8,03139115423711.018.628.315.24.91.93.0

16 to 19 years

2,608205109963.69.820.06.27.94.23.7

25 years and over

27,8233145825638.115.010.616.51.10.20.9

Women, 16 years and over

37,0931,3943321,06250.866.460.968.33.80.92.9

16 to 24 years

7,84171317553810.734.032.134.69.12.26.9

16 to 19 years

2,8043291032263.815.718.914.511.73.78.1

25 years and over

29,25268115752440.132.428.833.72.30.51.8
RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN

White (1)

59,1091,7464211,32581.083.177.285.23.00.72.2

Men

29,44155316339040.426.329.925.11.90.61.3

Women

29,6681,19225793540.756.847.260.14.00.93.2

Black (1)

9,41925010514512.911.919.39.32.71.11.5

Men

4,24611241715.85.37.54.62.61.01.7

Women

5,17313864747.16.611.74.82.71.21.4

Asian (1)

2,528515463.52.40.93.02.00.21.8

Men

1,208222201.71.00.41.31.80.21.7

Women

1,320293261.81.40.61.72.20.22.0

Hispanic or Latino (1)

11,4623089421415.714.717.213.82.70.81.9

Men

6,77512839899.36.17.25.71.90.61.3

Women

4,687180551256.48.610.18.03.81.22.7
FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX

Full-time workers (2)

54,88779515663975.237.928.641.11.40.31.2

Men

30,1413036024341.314.411.015.61.00.20.8

Women

24,7454939739633.923.517.825.52.00.41.6

Part-time workers (2)

17,9321,29838891024.661.871.258.57.22.25.1

Men

5,6514021532497.719.128.116.07.12.74.4

Women

12,28289623566116.842.743.142.57.31.95.4

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated.

1 Beginning in 2003, the race categories include persons who selected one race only; persons who selected more than one race group are not included. Detail for the race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) will not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race.

2 The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because full- or part-time status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple jobholders.

 

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Table 2. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by census region and division, 2003 annual averages
Region and divisionNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Northeast

12,8764128233017.719.615.021.23.20.62.6

New England

3,7458210725.13.91.84.62.20.31.9

Middle Atlantic

9,1313307225812.515.713.216.63.60.82.8

Midwest

18,62354612741925.526.023.326.92.90.72.2

East North Central

12,8753767729917.717.914.119.22.90.62.3

West North Central

5,748170501207.98.19.27.73.00.92.1

South

24,87588927061934.142.349.539.83.61.12.5

South Atlantic

12,66839910229717.419.018.719.13.10.82.3

East South Central

4,36214247956.06.88.66.13.31.12.2

West South Central

7,84534712022710.816.522.014.64.41.52.9

West

16,5722546718722.712.112.312.01.50.41.1

Mountain

4,942163571066.87.810.56.83.31.22.1

Pacific

11,63191108115.94.31.85.20.80.10.7

NOTE: Data exclude the incorporated self employed. The four major regions and nine census divisions of the United States are as follows:

  • Northeast:
    • New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
    • Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
  • Midwest:
    • East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin
    • West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota
  • South:
    • South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
    • East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee
    • West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
  • West:
    • Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
    • Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington

 

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Table 3. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by State, 2003 annual averages
StateNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Alabama

1,1123011191.51.42.01.22.71.01.7

Alaska

1911-10.30.0-0.10.5-0.5

Arizona

1,3204813351.82.32.42.33.61.02.7

Arkansas

6442311120.91.12.00.83.61.71.9

California

8,5375955411.72.80.93.50.70.10.6

Colorado

1,139325271.61.50.91.72.80.42.4

Connecticut

840171161.20.80.21.02.00.11.9

Delaware

2065140.30.20.20.32.40.51.9

District of Columbia

1164220.20.20.40.13.41.71.7

Florida

3,886133331005.36.36.16.43.40.82.6

Georgia

1,9215516392.62.62.92.52.90.82.0

Hawaii

3094130.40.30.20.21.30.31.0

Idaho

36811290.50.50.40.63.00.52.4

Illinois

3,1117119524.33.43.53.32.30.61.7

Indiana

1,787466402.42.21.12.62.60.32.2

Iowa

890238151.21.11.51.02.60.91.7

Kansas

761235181.01.10.91.23.00.72.4

Kentucky

1,1033610261.51.71.81.73.30.92.4

Louisiana

1,0834820281.52.33.71.84.41.82.6

Maine

3929270.50.40.40.52.30.51.8

Maryland

1,334286221.81.31.11.42.10.41.6

Massachusetts

1,661374332.31.80.72.12.20.22.0

Michigan

2,8429513823.94.52.45.33.30.52.9

Minnesota

1,5533210222.11.51.81.42.10.61.4

Mississippi

7022813151.01.32.41.04.01.92.1

Missouri

1,5865813452.22.82.42.93.70.82.8

Montana

25210640.30.51.10.34.02.41.6

Nebraska

53318990.70.91.70.63.41.71.7

Nevada

58012840.80.61.50.32.11.40.7

New Hampshire

3677250.50.30.40.31.90.51.4

New Jersey

1,8107511642.53.62.04.14.10.63.5

New Mexico

4712513120.61.22.40.85.32.82.5

New York

4,077164401245.67.87.38.04.01.03.0

North Carolina

2,0867019512.93.33.53.33.40.92.4

North Dakota

1927340.30.30.60.33.61.62.1

Ohio

3,30611328854.55.45.15.53.40.82.6

Oklahoma

8604115261.22.02.81.74.81.73.0

Oregon

947111101.30.50.20.61.20.11.1

Pennsylvania

3,2439121704.44.33.94.52.80.62.2

Rhode Island

3107-70.40.3-0.52.3-2.3

South Carolina

9803914251.31.92.61.64.01.42.6

South Dakota

2328260.30.40.40.43.40.92.6

Tennesee

1,4454712352.02.22.22.33.30.82.4

Texas

5,258235741617.211.213.610.44.51.43.1

Utah

664198110.90.91.50.72.91.21.7

Vermont

1755140.20.20.20.32.90.62.3

Virginia

1,688472452.32.20.42.92.80.12.7

Washington

1,646142122.30.70.40.80.90.10.7

West Virginia

452191090.60.91.80.64.22.22.0

Wisconsin

1,8295011392.52.42.02.52.70.62.1

Wyoming

1486330.20.30.60.24.12.02.0

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated. Users are reminded that these data are based on a sample and are therefore subject to sampling error; the degree of error may be quite large for less populous States. It is not possible to clearly determine whether workers surveyed in the CPS are actually covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or by individual State minimum wage laws. Thus, some workers reported as earning an hourly wage of $5.15 may not in fact be covered by Federal or State minimum wage laws. At the same time, the presence of a sizable number of workers with wages below the prevailing Federal minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of the FLSA or applicable State laws, because there are numerous exclusions and exemptions to these minimum wage statutes. Dash represents zero.

 

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Table 4. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by major occupation group, 2003 annual averages
Occupation (1) Number of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Management, professional, and related occupations

13,58895336218.64.56.14.00.70.20.5

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

3,640267195.01.21.31.20.70.20.5

Professional and related occupations

9,94969264313.63.34.82.80.70.30.4

Service occupations

15,8871,5212771,24421.872.450.880.09.61.77.8

Healthcare support occupations

2,4315918413.32.83.32.62.40.71.7

Protective service occupations

1,688305252.31.40.91.61.80.31.5

Food preparation and serving related occupations

6,2471,1581599998.655.129.264.218.52.516.0

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

3,44511148634.75.38.84.13.21.41.8

Personal care and service occupations

2,076162471152.87.78.67.47.82.35.5

Sales and office occupations

20,64928715413328.313.728.38.61.40.70.6

Sales and related occupations

7,379146727410.17.013.24.82.01.01.0

Office and administrative support occupations

13,270141825918.26.715.03.81.10.60.4

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

9,12166264012.53.14.82.60.70.30.4

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

5982310130.81.11.80.83.81.72.2

Construction and extraction occupations

5,111215167.01.00.91.00.40.10.3

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

3,4122110114.71.01.80.70.60.30.3

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

13,700132557718.86.310.15.01.00.40.6

Production occupations

7,79954233110.72.64.22.00.70.30.4

Transportation and material moving occupations

5,9017732458.13.75.92.91.30.50.8

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated.

1 Occupations reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census occupational classification system.

 

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Table 5. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by major industry group, 2003 annual averages
Industry (1) Number of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Private sector

63,9451,9864921,49487.794.690.396.13.10.82.3

Agriculture and related industries

6392712150.91.32.21.04.21.92.3

Nonagricultural industries

63,3061,9594801,47986.893.388.195.13.10.82.3

Mining

310----------

Construction

5,132276217.01.31.11.40.50.10.4

Manufacturing

10,62158144414.62.82.62.80.50.10.4

Durable goods manufacturing

6,548263239.01.20.61.50.40.00.4

Nondurable goods manufacturing

4,0733312215.61.62.21.40.80.30.5

Wholesale and retail trade

12,1731898710216.79.016.06.61.60.70.8

Wholesale trade

1,90212662.60.61.10.40.60.30.3

Retail trade

10,270177819614.18.414.96.21.70.80.9

Transportation and utilities

2,881209113.91.01.70.70.70.30.4

Information

1,5872715122.21.32.80.81.70.90.8

Financial activities

3,4332710174.71.31.81.10.80.30.5

Professional and business services

5,2746535307.23.16.41.91.20.70.6

Education and health services

10,9261776711015.08.412.37.11.60.61.0

Leisure and hospitality

8,0931,2401991,04111.159.036.566.915.32.512.9

Other services

2,87712938913.96.17.05.94.51.33.2

Public sector

9,001114526212.35.49.54.01.30.60.7

Federal

1,734176112.40.81.10.71.00.30.6

State

2,3033824143.21.84.40.91.71.00.6

Local

4,9645822366.82.84.02.31.20.40.7

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated. Dash represents zero.

1 Industries reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census industry classification system.

 

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Table 6. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by educational attainment, 2003 annual averages
Educational attainmentNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Less than a high school diploma

12,40562024537517.029.545.024.15.02.03.0

Less than 1 year of high school

3,33810334694.64.96.24.43.11.02.1

1 to 3 years of high school

7,76546819627210.622.336.017.56.02.53.5

4 years of high school, no diploma

1,3025015351.82.42.82.33.81.22.7

High school graduates or more

60,5411,4792991,18083.070.454.975.92.40.51.9

High school graduates, no college

26,94461713148636.929.424.031.32.30.51.8

Some college or associate degree

23,64070014655432.433.326.835.63.00.62.3

Some college, no degree

16,50459512646922.628.323.130.23.60.82.8

Associate degree

7,13610520859.85.03.75.51.50.31.2

Occupational program

3,9484513325.42.12.42.11.10.30.8

Academic program

3,188607534.42.91.33.41.90.21.7

College graduates, total

9,9571632314013.67.84.29.01.60.21.4

Bachelor's degree

7,9561422012210.96.83.77.81.80.31.5

Master's degree

1,585182162.20.90.41.01.10.11.0

Professional degree

2841-10.40.0-0.10.4-0.4

Doctoral degree

1323120.20.10.20.12.30.81.5

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated. Dash represents zero.

 

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Table 7. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by age and sex, 2003 annual averages
Age and sexNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15
BOTH SEXES

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Under 25 years

15,8711,10633077621.852.760.649.97.02.14.9

16 to 19 years

5,4125342123227.425.438.920.79.93.95.9

20 to 24 years

10,46057011745314.327.121.529.15.41.14.3

25 years and over

57,07599521578078.247.439.450.21.70.41.4

25 to 34 years

16,4994007132922.619.013.021.22.40.42.0

25 to 29 years

8,2392293619311.310.96.612.42.80.42.3

30 to 34 years

8,2591723513711.38.26.48.82.10.41.7

35 to 44 years

16,8272455219323.111.79.512.41.50.31.1

35 to 39 years

8,178119209911.25.73.76.41.50.21.2

40 to 44 years

8,649127339411.96.06.16.01.50.41.1

45 to 54 years

14,5441833814519.98.77.09.31.30.31.0

45 to 49 years

8,048105258011.05.04.65.11.30.31.0

50 to 54 years

6,4967914658.93.82.64.21.20.21.0

55 to 64 years

7,1308423619.84.04.23.91.20.30.9

55 to 59 years

4,5524512336.22.12.22.11.00.30.7

60 to 64 years

2,5793911283.51.92.01.81.50.41.1

65 years and over

2,0758231512.83.95.73.34.01.52.5

65 to 69 years

1,155359261.61.71.71.73.00.82.3

70 years and over

9204621251.32.23.91.65.02.32.7
MEN

Total, 16 years and over

35,85370621349349.233.639.131.72.00.61.4

Under 25 years

8,03139115423711.018.628.315.24.91.93.0

16 to 19 years

2,608205109963.69.820.06.27.94.23.7

20 to 24 years

5,423186451417.48.98.39.13.40.82.6

25 years and over

27,8233145825638.115.010.616.51.10.20.9

25 to 34 years

8,7651522013212.07.23.78.51.70.21.5

25 to 29 years

4,4298410746.14.01.84.81.90.21.7

30 to 34 years

4,3366810585.93.21.83.71.60.21.3

35 to 44 years

8,22473145911.33.52.63.80.90.20.7

35 to 39 years

4,134377305.71.81.31.90.90.20.7

40 to 44 years

4,089367295.61.71.31.90.90.20.7

45 to 54 years

6,6915713449.22.72.42.80.90.20.7

45 to 49 years

3,7194111305.12.02.01.91.10.30.8

50 to 54 years

2,972162144.10.80.40.90.50.10.5

55 to 64 years

3,202236174.41.11.11.10.70.20.5

55 to 59 years

2,034142122.80.70.40.80.70.10.6

60 to 64 years

1,1688351.60.40.60.30.70.30.4

65 years and over

9419541.30.40.90.31.00.50.4

65 to 69 years

5343120.70.10.20.10.60.20.4

70 years and over

4076420.60.30.70.11.51.00.5
WOMEN

Total, 16 years and over

37,0931,3943321,06250.866.460.968.33.80.92.9

Under 25 years

7,84171317553810.734.032.134.69.12.26.9

16 to 19 years

2,8043291032263.815.718.914.511.73.78.1

20 to 24 years

5,037385723136.918.313.220.17.61.46.2

25 years and over

29,25268115752440.132.428.833.72.30.51.8

25 to 34 years

7,7342485119710.611.89.412.73.20.72.5

25 to 29 years

3,810145261195.26.94.87.73.80.73.1

30 to 34 years

3,92310325785.44.94.65.02.60.62.0

35 to 44 years

8,6041733813511.88.27.08.72.00.41.6

35 to 39 years

4,0448112695.53.92.24.42.00.31.7

40 to 44 years

4,5609126656.34.34.84.22.00.61.4

45 to 54 years

7,8521262510110.86.04.66.51.60.31.3

45 to 49 years

4,3296414505.93.02.63.21.50.31.2

50 to 54 years

3,5246211514.83.02.03.31.80.31.4

55 to 64 years

3,9286117445.42.93.12.81.60.41.1

55 to 59 years

2,5183110213.51.51.81.41.20.40.8

60 to 64 years

1,410307231.91.41.31.52.10.51.6

65 years and over

1,1347326471.63.54.83.06.42.34.1

65 to 69 years

621328240.91.51.51.55.21.33.9

70 years and over

5144118230.72.03.31.58.03.54.5

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated.

 

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Table 8. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by marital status, age, and sex, 2003 annual averages
Marital status, age and sexNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15
BOTH SEXES

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Never married

24,7371,29535494133.961.765.060.55.21.43.8

16 to 24 years

13,7221,01330770618.848.256.345.47.42.25.1

25 years and over

11,0162824723515.113.48.615.12.60.42.1

25 to 54 years

10,5312734422914.413.08.114.72.60.42.2

Married, spouse present

35,96351612139549.324.622.225.41.40.31.1

16 to 24 years

1,7416816522.43.22.93.33.90.93.0

25 years and over

34,22244710534246.921.319.322.01.30.31.0

25 to 54 years

28,2883748229238.817.815.018.81.30.31.0

Other marital status

12,2462897021916.813.812.814.12.40.61.8

16 to 24 years

409247170.61.11.31.15.91.74.2

25 years and over

11,8372666420216.212.711.713.02.20.51.7

25 to 54 years

9,0501823614612.48.76.69.42.00.41.6
MEN

Total, 16 years and over

35,85370621349349.233.639.131.72.00.61.4

Never married

13,10447916131818.022.829.520.53.71.22.4

16 to 24 years

7,0553621492139.717.227.313.75.12.13.0

25 years and over

6,049116111058.35.52.06.81.90.21.7

25 to 54 years

5,843115111048.05.52.06.72.00.21.8

Married, spouse present

18,1621623712524.97.76.88.00.90.20.7

16 to 24 years

816213181.11.00.61.22.60.42.2

25 years and over]

17,3461423510723.86.86.46.90.80.20.6

25 to 54 years

14,189120279319.55.75.06.00.80.20.7

Other marital status

4,5876515506.33.12.83.21.40.31.1

16 to 24 years

1609360.20.40.60.45.61.93.8

25 years and over

4,4275612446.12.72.22.81.30.31.0

25 to 54 years

3,647479385.02.21.72.41.30.21.0
WOMEN

Total, 16 years and over

37,0931,3943321,06250.866.460.968.33.80.92.9

Never married

11,63381619362315.938.935.440.17.01.75.4

16 to 24 years

6,6676511584939.131.029.031.79.82.47.4

25 years and over

4,966165351306.87.96.48.43.30.72.6

25 to 54 years

4,688158331256.47.56.18.03.40.72.7

Married, spouse present

17,8023548427024.416.915.417.42.00.51.5

16 to 24 years

9264713341.32.22.42.25.11.43.7

25 years and over

16,8763067023623.114.612.815.21.80.41.4

25 to 54 years

14,0992545519919.312.110.112.81.80.41.4

Other marital status

7,6582245516910.510.710.110.92.90.72.2

16 to 24 years

248154110.30.70.70.76.01.64.4

25 years and over

7,4102095115810.210.09.410.22.80.72.1

25 to 54 years

5,403136271097.46.55.07.02.50.52.0

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated.

 

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Table 9. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by usual hours worked per week, 2003 annual averages
Usual hours worked per weekNumber of workers
(in thousands)
Percent distributionPercent of workers paid hourly rates
Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15Total paid hourly ratesAt or below $5.15At or below $5.15
TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15TotalAt $5.15Below $5.15

Total, 16 years and over

72,9462,1005451,555100.0100.0100.0100.02.90.72.1

Hours vary

5,291301742277.314.313.614.65.71.44.3

0 to 34 hours

15,8511,10933177821.752.860.750.07.02.14.9

0 to 4 hours

319243210.41.10.61.47.50.96.6

5 to 9 hours

9327224481.33.44.43.17.72.65.2

10 to 14 hours

1,45113456782.06.410.35.09.23.95.4

15 to 19 hours

2,218179681113.08.512.57.18.13.15.0

20 to 24 hours

4,7973271102176.615.620.214.06.82.34.5

25 to 29 hours

2,127149261232.97.14.87.97.01.25.8

30 to 34 hours

4,009224441805.510.78.111.65.61.14.5

35 hours or more

51,80469114055171.032.925.735.41.30.31.1

35 to 39 hours

4,960171311406.88.15.79.03.40.62.8

40 hours or more

46,84452010941164.224.820.026.41.10.20.9

40 hours

40,61645010134955.721.418.522.41.10.20.9

41 hours or more

6,228708628.53.31.54.01.10.11.0

41 to 44 hours

8013-31.10.1-0.20.4-0.4

45 to 48 hours

2,306195143.20.90.90.90.80.20.6

49 to 59 hours

2,160242223.01.10.41.41.10.11.0

60 hours or more

962241231.31.10.21.52.50.12.4

NOTE: Data exclude all the self employed, both unincorporated and incorporated. Dash represents zero.

 

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Table 10. Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex, 1979-2003 annual averages(Numbers in thousands)
Year and sexTotal wage and salary workersWorkers paid hourly rates
TotalPercent of total wage and salary workersBelow prevailing Federal minimum wageAt prevailing Federal minimum wageTotal at or below prevailing Federal minimum wage
NumberPercent of hourly paid workers
BOTH SEXES

1979

87,52951,72159.12,9163,9976,91213.4

1980

87,64451,33558.63,0874,6867,77315.1

1981

88,51651,86958.63,5134,3117,82415.1

1982

87,36850,84658.22,3484,1486,49612.8

1983

88,29051,82058.72,0774,2616,33812.2

1984

92,19454,14358.71,8384,1255,96311.0

1985

94,52155,76259.01,6393,8995,5389.9

1986 (1)

96,90357,52959.41,5993,4615,0608.8

1987

99,30359,55260.01,4683,2294,6987.9

1988

101,40760,87860.01,3192,6083,9276.5

1989

103,48062,38960.31,3721,7903,1625.1

1990 (1)

104,87663,17260.2(2) 2,132(2) 1,096(2) 3,228(2) 5.1

1991

103,72362,62760.4(2) 2,377(2) 2,906(2) 5,283(2) 8.4

1992

104,66863,61060.81,9392,9824,9217.7

1993

106,10164,27460.61,7072,6254,3326.7

1994 (1)

107,98966,54961.61,9952,1324,1286.2

1995

110,03868,35462.11,6991,9563,6565.3

1996

111,96069,25561.9(2) 1,863(2) 1,861(2) 3,724(2) 5.4

1997 (1)

114,53370,73561.8(2) 2,990(2) 1,764(2) 4,754(2) 6.7

1998 (1)

116,73071,44061.22,8341,5934,4276.2

1999 (1)

118,96372,30660.82,1941,1463,3404.6

2000 (1)

122,08973,49660.21,7528982,6503.6

2001

122,22973,39260.01,5186562,1743.0

2002

121,82672,50859.51,5795672,1463.0

2003 (1)

122,35872,94659.61,5555452,1002.9
MEN

1979

49,40028,39257.58461,3532,1997.7

1980

48,70027,70956.99831,6962,6789.7

1981

48,84427,57656.51,1191,5332,6529.6

1982

47,59126,48155.66971,5872,2848.6

1983

47,85626,83156.15851,6582,2438.4

1984

50,02228,14056.34901,6262,1167.5

1985

51,01528,89356.64401,5441,9846.9

1986 (1)

51,94229,66657.14081,3361,7435.9

1987

52,93830,47457.63641,2831,6475.4

1988

53,91231,05857.63111,0661,3774.4

1989

54,78931,68757.83797331,1123.5

1990 (1)

55,55332,10457.8(2) 712(2) 385(2) 1,097(2) 3.4

1991

54,61831,63957.9(2) 795(2) 1,114(2) 1,909(2) 6.0

1992

54,82632,15558.66531,2311,8855.9

1993

55,47532,33758.35731,0911,6645.1

1994 (1)

56,57033,52859.36748911,5654.7

1995

57,66934,42059.75427961,3383.9

1996

58,47334,83859.6(2) 619(2) 755(2) 1,374(2) 3.9

1997 (1)

59,82535,52159.4(2) 1,147(2) 673(2) 1,820(2) 5.1

1998 (1)

60,97335,76158.71,0396281,6674.7

1999 (1)

61,91436,07358.37684461,2143.4

2000 (1)

63,66236,72057.75823199012.5

2001

63,64736,54457.44972477442.0

2002

63,27236,00056.95822177992.2

2003 (1)

63,23635,85356.74932137062.0
WOMEN

1979

38,12923,32961.22,0702,6444,71420.2

1980

38,94423,62660.72,1042,9905,09521.6

1981

39,67224,29461.22,3942,7785,17221.3

1982

39,77724,36561.31,6512,5614,21217.3

1983

40,43324,98961.81,4922,6034,09516.4

1984

42,17226,00361.71,3482,4993,84714.8

1985

43,50626,86961.81,1982,3563,55413.2

1986 (1)

44,96127,86362.01,1922,1253,31711.9

1987

46,36529,07862.71,1051,9463,05110.5

1988

47,49529,82062.81,0081,5422,5508.6

1989

48,69130,70263.19941,0562,0506.7

1990 (1)

49,32331,06963.0(2) 1,420(2) 711(2) 2,131(2) 6.9

1991

49,10530,98863.1(2) 1,582(2) 1,792(2) 3,374(2) 10.9

1992

49,84231,45463.11,2861,7513,0369.7

1993

50,62631,93763.11,1331,5342,6678.4

1994 (1)

51,41933,02164.21,3221,2412,5637.8

1995

52,36933,93464.81,1571,1612,3186.8

1996

53,48834,41864.3(2) 1,244(2) 1,106(2) 2,350(2) 6.8

1997 (1)

54,70835,21464.4(2) 1,843(2) 1,092(2) 2,935(2) 8.3

1998 (1)

55,75735,68064.01,7949652,7607.7

1999 (1)

57,05036,23363.51,4267002,1265.9

2000 (1)

58,42736,77762.91,1705791,7494.8

2001

58,58236,84862.91,0214091,4303.9

2002

58,55536,50862.39973501,3473.7

2003 (1)

59,12237,09362.71,0623321,3943.8

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2004 and subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.

2 Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage that took place in those years.

NOTE: 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, and to $5.15 in September 1997. Data exclude the incorporated self employed. Also note that the presence of a sizable number of workers with reported wages below the minimum does not necessarily indicate violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as there are numerous exemptions to the minimum wage provisions of the law. Indeed, the relatively large number of workers with reported wages below the minimum in 1998-2003 includes some hourly-paid workers reported as earning exactly $5.00 per hour (about 1.4 million in 1998, about 900,000 in 1999, about 600,000 in 2000, about 500,000 in 2001, about 500,000 in 2002, and about 350,000 in 2003); to some extent, this may reflect rounding on the part of survey respondents.

 

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Last Modified Date: March 31, 2005