Jobs Affected By The Minimum Wage
The jobs that are most likely to be directly affected by the minimum wage are the ones that pay a wage close to the minimum.
According to the May 2006 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, the four lowest-paid occupational sectors in May 2006 (when the federal minimum wage was $5.15 per hour) were the following:
| Sector | Workers Employed | Median Wage | Mean Wage | Mean Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 11,029,280 | $7.90 | $8.86 | $18,430 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | 450,040 | $8.63 | $10.49 | $21,810 |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 3,249,760 | $9.17 | $11.02 | $22,920 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 4,396,250 | $9.75 | $10.86 | $22,580 |
Two years later, in May 2008, when the federal minimum wage was $5.85 per hour and was about to increase to $6.55 per hour in July 2008, these same sectors were still the lowest-paying, but their situation (according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data) was:
| Sector | Workers Employed | Median Wage | Mean Wage | Mean Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 11,438,550 | $8.59 | $9.72 | $20,220 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | 438,490 | $9.34 | $11.32 | $23,560 |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 3,437,520 | $9.82 | $11.59 | $24,120 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 4,429,870 | $10.52 | $11.72 | $24,370 |
In 2006, workers in the following 13 individual occupations received, on average, a median hourly wage of less than $8.00 per hour:
| Occupation | Workers Employed | Median Wage | Mean Wage | Mean Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming Dealers | 82,960 | $7.08 | $8.18 | $17,010 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 4,312,930 | $3.14 | $4.27 | $11,190 |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | 2,461,890 | $7.24 | $7.66 | $15,930 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 401,790 | $7.36 | $7.84 | $16,320 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 612,020 | $7.41 | $7.67 | $15,960 |
| Dishwashers | 502,770 | $7.57 | $7.78 | $16,190 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 101,530 | $7.64 | $8.41 | $17,500 |
| Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop | 524,410 | $7.76 | $8.15 | $16,950 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 340,390 | $7.78 | $8.10 | $16,860 |
| Shampooers | 15,580 | $7.78 | $8.20 | $17,050 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 235,670 | $7.83 | $8.43 | $17,530 |
| Bartenders | 485,120 | $7.86 | $8.91 | $18,540 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | 230,780 | $7.95 | $8.48 | $17,630 |
In 2008, only two occupations paid a median wage less than $8.00 per hour:
| Occupation | Workers Employed | Median Wage | Mean Wage | Mean Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming Dealers | 91,130 | $7.84 | $9.56 | $19,890 |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | 2,708,840 | $7.90 | $8.36 | $17,400 |
According to the May 2009 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, the lowest-paid occupational sectors in May 2009 (when the federal minimum wage was $7.25 per hour) were the following:
| Sector | Workers Employed | Median Wage | Mean Wage | Mean Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming Dealers | 86,900 | $8.19 | $9.76 | $20,290 |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | 2,695,740 | $8.28 | $8.71 | $18,120 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,302,070 | $8.50 | $9.80 | $20,380 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 402,020 | $8.51 | $9.09 | $18,900 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 539,520 | $8.52 | $8.76 | $18,230 |
Read more about this topic: Minimum Wage In The United States
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