Summary statistics on minimum wage violations in the 10 most populous states
| Category | Minimum-wage-eligible workers | Eligible workers experiencing minimum wage violations | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Share of total | Number | Share of total group | Group’s share of category | Average hourly underpayment | Average weekly underpayment | Average annual underpayment if full-year | Total earned annual wages not paid to workers | Average weekly wages received | Average annual wages received if full-year | Total annual wages received by workers experiencing minimum wage violations | Share of earned wages not paid | |
| All workers | 59,014,000 | 100.0% | 2,422,000 | 4.1% | 100.0% | $1.88 | $64 | $3,300 | $8,002,000,000 | $203 | $10,500 | $25,500,000,000 | 23.9% |
| Low-wage earners | 14,094,000 | 23.9% | 2,422,000 | 17.2% | 100.0% | $1.88 | $64 | $3,300 | $8,002,000,000 | $203 | $10,500 | $25,500,000,000 | 23.9% |
| Gender | |||||||||||||
| Men | 31,521,000 | 53.4% | 1,088,000 | 3.5% | 44.9% | $1.78 | $64 | $3,300 | $3,624,000,000 | $216 | $11,300 | $12,200,000,000 | 22.8% |
| Women | 27,493,000 | 46.6% | 1,334,000 | 4.9% | 55.1% | $1.95 | $63 | $3,300 | $4,378,000,000 | $191 | $9,900 | $13,300,000,000 | 24.8% |
| Age | |||||||||||||
| Under 20 | 2,031,000 | 3.4% | 276,000 | 13.6% | 11.4% | $1.26 | $31 | $1,600 | $439,000,000 | $151 | $7,900 | $2,200,000,000 | 16.8% |
| 20 and over | 56,983,000 | 96.6% | 2,145,000 | 3.8% | 88.6% | $1.95 | $68 | $3,500 | $7,564,000,000 | $209 | $10,900 | $23,300,000,000 | 24.5% |
| 16–24 | 8,607,000 | 14.6% | 791,000 | 9.2% | 32.7% | $1.69 | $50 | $2,600 | $2,060,000,000 | $173 | $9,000 | $7,100,000,000 | 22.5% |
| 25–54 | 39,012,000 | 66.1% | 1,240,000 | 3.2% | 51.2% | $1.95 | $70 | $3,600 | $4,524,000,000 | $221 | $11,500 | $14,300,000,000 | 24.1% |
| 55–85 | 11,395,000 | 19.3% | 390,000 | 3.4% | 16.1% | $2.00 | $70 | $3,600 | $1,418,000,000 | $204 | $10,600 | $4,100,000,000 | 25.5% |
| Race/ethnicity | |||||||||||||
| White | 32,872,000 | 55.7% | 1,141,000 | 3.5% | 47.1% | $2.04 | $67 | $3,500 | $3,966,000,000 | $186 | $9,700 | $11,000,000,000 | 26.5% |
| Black | 7,205,000 | 12.2% | 353,000 | 4.9% | 14.6% | $1.67 | $55 | $2,900 | $1,013,000,000 | $203 | $10,600 | $3,700,000,000 | 21.4% |
| Hispanic | 13,834,000 | 23.4% | 708,000 | 5.1% | 29.2% | $1.69 | $60 | $3,100 | $2,227,000,000 | $225 | $11,700 | $8,300,000,000 | 21.2% |
| Other | 5,103,000 | 8.6% | 220,000 | 4.3% | 9.1% | $1.94 | $69 | $3,600 | $795,000,000 | $217 | $11,300 | $2,500,000,000 | 24.3% |
| Marital & family status | |||||||||||||
| Married parent | 15,139,000 | 25.7% | 417,000 | 2.8% | 17.2% | $1.92 | $70 | $3,600 | $1,519,000,000 | $229 | $11,900 | $5,000,000,000 | 23.5% |
| Single parent | 4,713,000 | 8.0% | 223,000 | 4.7% | 9.2% | $2.06 | $69 | $3,600 | $800,000,000 | $204 | $10,600 | $2,400,000,000 | 25.3% |
| Married, no kids | 15,246,000 | 25.8% | 451,000 | 3.0% | 18.6% | $1.95 | $71 | $3,700 | $1,675,000,000 | $219 | $11,400 | $5,100,000,000 | 24.6% |
| Unmarried, no kids | 23,916,000 | 40.5% | 1,331,000 | 5.6% | 55.0% | $1.80 | $58 | $3,000 | $4,008,000,000 | $189 | $9,800 | $13,100,000,000 | 23.5% |
| Family income | |||||||||||||
| Less than $10,000 | 2,186,000 | 3.7% | 185,000 | 8.4% | 7.6% | $1.99 | $68 | $3,500 | $649,000,000 | $196 | $10,200 | $1,900,000,000 | 25.6% |
| $10,000–$24,999 | 6,991,000 | 11.8% | 512,000 | 7.3% | 21.2% | $1.83 | $62 | $3,200 | $1,662,000,000 | $207 | $10,800 | $5,500,000,000 | 23.1% |
| $25,000–$39,999 | 9,707,000 | 16.4% | 478,000 | 4.9% | 19.7% | $1.81 | $62 | $3,200 | $1,546,000,000 | $208 | $10,800 | $5,200,000,000 | 23.0% |
| $40,000–$59,999 | 10,630,000 | 18.0% | 415,000 | 3.9% | 17.1% | $1.85 | $64 | $3,300 | $1,377,000,000 | $208 | $10,800 | $4,500,000,000 | 23.5% |
| $60,000–$99,999 | 15,051,000 | 25.5% | 470,000 | 3.1% | 19.4% | $1.86 | $62 | $3,200 | $1,528,000,000 | $201 | $10,400 | $4,900,000,000 | 23.7% |
| $100,000–$149,999 | 8,178,000 | 13.9% | 205,000 | 2.5% | 8.5% | $1.94 | $62 | $3,200 | $664,000,000 | $189 | $9,800 | $2,000,000,000 | 24.9% |
| $150,000 or more | 6,272,000 | 10.6% | 157,000 | 2.5% | 6.5% | $2.07 | $71 | $3,700 | $577,000,000 | $186 | $9,700 | $1,500,000,000 | 27.6% |
| Industry | |||||||||||||
| Construction | 3,570,000 | 6.0% | 77,000 | 2.2% | 3.2% | $1.85 | $70 | $3,700 | $283,000,000 | $237 | $12,300 | $1,000,000,000 | 22.9% |
| Manufacturing | 6,760,000 | 11.5% | 130,000 | 1.9% | 5.4% | $1.84 | $68 | $3,600 | $461,000,000 | $236 | $12,300 | $1,600,000,000 | 22.4% |
| Retail | 7,582,000 | 12.8% | 358,000 | 4.7% | 14.8% | $1.25 | $41 | $2,100 | $763,000,000 | $208 | $10,800 | $3,900,000,000 | 16.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing | 467,000 | 0.8% | 43,000 | 9.1% | 1.8% | $1.65 | $71 | $3,700 | $157,000,000 | $276 | $14,400 | $600,000,000 | 20.4% |
| Wholesale | 1,659,000 | 2.8% | 41,000 | 2.5% | 1.7% | $1.58 | $62 | $3,200 | $131,000,000 | $254 | $13,200 | $500,000,000 | 19.5% |
| Transportation and utilities | 3,456,000 | 5.9% | 96,000 | 2.8% | 4.0% | $1.77 | $72 | $3,800 | $362,000,000 | $253 | $13,100 | $1,300,000,000 | 22.3% |
| Information | 1,323,000 | 2.2% | 36,000 | 2.7% | 1.5% | $2.03 | $64 | $3,400 | $122,000,000 | $167 | $8,700 | $300,000,000 | 27.9% |
| Financial activities | 3,625,000 | 6.1% | 84,000 | 2.3% | 3.5% | $2.25 | $83 | $4,300 | $362,000,000 | $209 | $10,900 | $900,000,000 | 28.5% |
| Professional and business | 6,432,000 | 10.9% | 192,000 | 3.0% | 7.9% | $1.81 | $64 | $3,300 | $635,000,000 | $223 | $11,600 | $2,200,000,000 | 22.2% |
| Education and health | 12,027,000 | 20.4% | 324,000 | 2.7% | 13.4% | $1.90 | $64 | $3,300 | $1,073,000,000 | $202 | $10,500 | $3,400,000,000 | 23.9% |
| Food and drink service | 4,394,000 | 7.4% | 627,000 | 14.3% | 25.9% | $2.21 | $68 | $3,500 | $2,209,000,000 | $168 | $8,700 | $5,500,000,000 | 28.8% |
| Other leisure and hospitality | 1,840,000 | 3.1% | 124,000 | 6.8% | 5.1% | $1.72 | $60 | $3,100 | $388,000,000 | $194 | $10,100 | $1,300,000,000 | 23.6% |
| Other industries | 5,880,000 | 10.0% | 289,000 | 4.9% | 12.0% | $2.01 | $70 | $3,700 | $1,057,000,000 | $205 | $10,700 | $3,100,000,000 | 25.5% |
| Occupation | |||||||||||||
| Management | 6,935,000 | 11.8% | 98,000 | 1.4% | 4.1% | $2.74 | $115 | $6,000 | $589,000,000 | $211 | $11,000 | $1,100,000,000 | 35.3% |
| Professional | 11,630,000 | 19.7% | 192,000 | 1.6% | 7.9% | $2.26 | $78 | $4,100 | $778,000,000 | $200 | $10,400 | $2,000,000,000 | 28.0% |
| Service | 11,704,000 | 19.8% | 1,126,000 | 9.6% | 46.5% | $2.05 | $66 | $3,400 | $3,849,000,000 | $187 | $9,700 | $10,900,000,000 | 26.0% |
| Sales | 6,970,000 | 11.8% | 364,000 | 5.2% | 15.0% | $1.37 | $46 | $2,400 | $877,000,000 | $206 | $10,700 | $3,900,000,000 | 18.4% |
| Office and administrative support | 7,674,000 | 13.0% | 197,000 | 2.6% | 8.1% | $1.46 | $44 | $2,300 | $447,000,000 | $203 | $10,500 | $2,100,000,000 | 17.7% |
| Farming, forestry, and fishing | 351,000 | 0.6% | 41,000 | 11.6% | 1.7% | $1.70 | $77 | $4,000 | $164,000,000 | $281 | $14,600 | $600,000,000 | 21.6% |
| Construction and extraction | 3,090,000 | 5.2% | 73,000 | 2.4% | 3.0% | $1.73 | $65 | $3,400 | $249,000,000 | $241 | $12,500 | $900,000,000 | 21.3% |
| Installation, maintenance, and repairs | 2,281,000 | 3.9% | 39,000 | 1.7% | 1.6% | $2.06 | $82 | $4,300 | $167,000,000 | $219 | $11,400 | $400,000,000 | 27.2% |
| Production | 4,030,000 | 6.8% | 104,000 | 2.6% | 4.3% | $1.71 | $61 | $3,200 | $330,000,000 | $234 | $12,200 | $1,300,000,000 | 20.7% |
| Transportation | 4,350,000 | 7.4% | 188,000 | 4.3% | 7.8% | $1.53 | $56 | $2,900 | $552,000,000 | $235 | $12,200 | $2,300,000,000 | 19.4% |
| Worker status | |||||||||||||
| Part time (<20 hours) | 3,156,000 | 5.3% | 307,000 | 9.7% | 12.7% | $1.54 | $20 | $1,100 | $323,000,000 | $85 | $4,400 | $1,400,000,000 | 19.2% |
| Mid time (20–34 hours) | 8,817,000 | 14.9% | 844,000 | 9.6% | 34.9% | $1.88 | $48 | $2,500 | $2,101,000,000 | $158 | $8,200 | $6,900,000,000 | 23.2% |
| Full time (35+ hours) | 47,042,000 | 79.7% | 1,271,000 | 2.7% | 52.5% | $1.95 | $84 | $4,400 | $5,578,000,000 | $261 | $13,500 | $17,200,000,000 | 24.5% |
| Education | |||||||||||||
| Less than high school | 6,281,000 | 10.6% | 559,000 | 8.9% | 23.1% | $1.49 | $51 | $2,700 | $1,482,000,000 | $212 | $11,000 | $6,200,000,000 | 19.4% |
| High school | 16,789,000 | 28.4% | 752,000 | 4.5% | 31.1% | $1.83 | $63 | $3,300 | $2,451,000,000 | $206 | $10,700 | $8,100,000,000 | 23.3% |
| Some college | 18,152,000 | 30.8% | 772,000 | 4.3% | 31.9% | $2.02 | $65 | $3,400 | $2,630,000,000 | $191 | $9,900 | $7,700,000,000 | 25.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 17,791,000 | 30.1% | 338,000 | 1.9% | 14.0% | $2.30 | $82 | $4,300 | $1,439,000,000 | $207 | $10,700 | $3,600,000,000 | 28.4% |
| Nativity & citizenship | |||||||||||||
| U.S.-born | 45,934,000 | 77.8% | 1,731,000 | 3.8% | 71.5% | $1.92 | $63 | $3,300 | $5,657,000,000 | $189 | $9,900 | $17,100,000,000 | 24.9% |
| Foreign born | 13,080,000 | 22.2% | 691,000 | 5.3% | 28.5% | $1.76 | $65 | $3,400 | $2,345,000,000 | $235 | $12,200 | $8,500,000,000 | 21.7% |
| U.S.-born citizen | 46,500,000 | 78.8% | 1,750,000 | 3.8% | 72.3% | $1.92 | $63 | $3,300 | $5,705,000,000 | $190 | $9,900 | $17,300,000,000 | 24.8% |
| Naturalized U.S. citizen | 5,786,000 | 9.8% | 236,000 | 4.1% | 9.7% | $1.87 | $69 | $3,600 | $842,000,000 | $230 | $12,000 | $2,800,000,000 | 23.0% |
| Not a U.S. citizen | 6,728,000 | 11.4% | 436,000 | 6.5% | 18.0% | $1.71 | $64 | $3,300 | $1,455,000,000 | $239 | $12,400 | $5,400,000,000 | 21.2% |
| Union status | |||||||||||||
| Union covered | 615,000 | 1.0% | 14,000 | 2.3% | 0.6% | $1.63 | $46 | $2,400 | $34,000,000 | $217 | $11,300 | $200,000,000 | 17.4% |
| Not union covered | 51,596,000 | 87.4% | 2,288,000 | 4.4% | 94.5% | $1.88 | $63 | $3,300 | $7,551,000,000 | $201 | $10,500 | $23,900,000,000 | 24.0% |
| Union status not available | 6,804,000 | 11.5% | 120,000 | 1.8% | 4.9% | $1.82 | $67 | $3,500 | $417,000,000 | $229 | $11,900 | $1,400,000,000 | 22.7% |
| State | |||||||||||||
| California | 14,569,000 | 24.7% | 590,000 | 4.1% | 24.4% | $1.88 | $64 | $3,400 | $1,979,000,000 | $224 | $11,700 | $6,900,000,000 | 22.3% |
| Florida | 5,515,000 | 9.3% | 404,000 | 7.3% | 16.7% | $1.57 | $54 | $2,800 | $1,124,000,000 | $213 | $11,100 | $4,500,000,000 | 20.1% |
| Georgia | 3,769,000 | 6.4% | 82,000 | 2.2% | 3.4% | $1.94 | $71 | $3,700 | $301,000,000 | $203 | $10,600 | $900,000,000 | 25.9% |
| Illinois | 5,185,000 | 8.8% | 243,000 | 4.7% | 10.0% | $1.62 | $53 | $2,800 | $675,000,000 | $205 | $10,700 | $2,600,000,000 | 20.6% |
| Michigan | 2,861,000 | 4.8% | 130,000 | 4.5% | 5.4% | $2.05 | $63 | $3,300 | $429,000,000 | $169 | $8,800 | $1,100,000,000 | 27.3% |
| New York | 6,047,000 | 10.2% | 300,000 | 5.0% | 12.4% | $1.82 | $62 | $3,200 | $965,000,000 | $210 | $10,900 | $3,300,000,000 | 22.8% |
| North Carolina | 3,111,000 | 5.3% | 84,000 | 2.7% | 3.5% | $2.14 | $72 | $3,800 | $316,000,000 | $179 | $9,300 | $800,000,000 | 28.8% |
| Ohio | 3,915,000 | 6.6% | 217,000 | 5.5% | 9.0% | $1.65 | $53 | $2,800 | $601,000,000 | $185 | $9,600 | $2,100,000,000 | 22.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,299,000 | 7.3% | 107,000 | 2.5% | 4.4% | $2.46 | $80 | $4,200 | $448,000,000 | $164 | $8,500 | $900,000,000 | 32.9% |
| Texas | 9,743,000 | 16.5% | 265,000 | 2.7% | 10.9% | $2.38 | $85 | $4,400 | $1,165,000,000 | $182 | $9,500 | $2,500,000,000 | 31.7% |
Note: Full-year annual wages are calculated by multiplying weekly wages by 52 weeks per year. Numbers may not add due to rounding. Shares are computed based on unrounded numbers. “Low-wage earners” includes all minimum-wage-eligible workers in the bottom quintile of wage earners in each state.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group data, 2013–2015