Monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States
United States: Monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) was 36.7% in 2009. ▼ Falling
Monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States, 1999–2009
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States is 36.7%, measured in 2009.
That represents a change of up 7.9% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States peaked at 38.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 30.7%, in 2006.
That places United States 20th out of 28 countries with data for 2009, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 38.2% | — |
| 2000 | 36.7% | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 35.4% | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 34.4% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 33.5% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 32.8% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 31.9% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 30.7% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 31.2% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 34.0% | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 36.7% | +7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.2% | 38.2% | 38.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.7% | 30.7% | 36.7% | 10 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 17 Hungary 38.8% compare
- 18 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 38.6% compare
- 18 United Kingdom 38.6% compare
- 20 United States of America 36.7% compare
- 22 Spain 36.5% compare
- 23 Slovakia 35.7% compare
- 23 Slovakia 35.7% compare
More work & labour data for United States
- STAN Database for Structural Analysis, 2025 edition — Total employment 285,643 Hours (2023)
- Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data 7,476 Thousand persons (2026)
- STAN Database for Structural Analysis, 2020 edition — Total employment 276,623 Hours (2019)
- Monthly minimum wages - bi-annual data 1,103 (2026)
- Tax rate on low wage earners - tax wedge on labour costs 27.5 Rate (2023)
- Annual net earnings 34,012 (2023)
- Tax rate on low wage earners - unemployment trap 59.7 Rate (2023)
- Annual net earnings of a full-time single worker without children 33,848 Purchasing power standard (PPS) (2023)
- Tax rate on low wage earners - low wage trap 27.7 Rate (2023)
- Employment and labour force by sex and age - quarterly data 20,303 Thousand persons (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States?
- Monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) in United States was 36.7% in 2009, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 38.2% in 1999.
- What is the lowest monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.7% in 2006.
- How does United States rank for monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%)?
- United States ranks 20th out of 28 countries with data for 2009.
- Is monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Monthly minimum wage as a proportion of average monthly earnings (%) - NACE Rev. 1.1 (1999-2009). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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