Minimum Wage

Women represent nearly two-thirds of minimum wage workers — and full-time, year-round work at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour leaves a woman with two children thousands of dollars below the poverty line. We're working to raise the minimum wage and tipped minimum wage at the federal level and in the states to boost women's economic security and help close the wage gap.

Highlights

Fact Sheet | Higher State Minimum Wages Promote Fair Pay for Women

October 2, 2013

Raising the minimum wage and the tipped minimum wage are important steps towards closing the wage gap for women.

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Fact Sheet | Fair Pay for Women Requires Increasing the Minimum Wage and Tipped Minimum Wage

October 4, 2013

Each year, millions of workers are paid the minimum wage and rely on these wages to support themselves and their families.  But the federal minimum wage hasn't increased since 2009 and the tipped minimum cash wage hasn't increased since 1991. Raising the federal minimum wage and the tipped minimum wage is vital for women, who made up about two-thirds of all workers who earned minimum wage or less in 2012. 

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Fact Sheet | 60 Percent of Women’s Job Gains in the Recovery Are in the 10 Largest Low-Wage Jobs

July 23, 2013

Women have regained a large number of the jobs they lost during the recession, but their gains are highly concentrated in low-wage occupations. Sixty percent of the increase in employment for women between 2009 and 2012 was in the 10 largest occupations that typically pay less than $10.10 per hour. In contrast, these 10 low-wage occupations accounted for only 20 percent of men’s employment growth over the same period.

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Fact Sheet | Women and the Minimum Wage, State by State Chart

June 25, 2013

The minimum wage is falling short for millions of Americans — especially for women, who represent nearly two-thirds of minimum wage workers across the country, and at least half of minimum wage workers in every state. Use this chart to see how the states compare.

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More Resources

Fact Sheet | Fair Pay for Women Requires Increasing the Minimum Wage and Tipped Minimum Wage

October 04, 2013

Each year, millions of workers are paid the minimum wage and rely on these wages to support themselves and their families.  But the federal minimum wage hasn't increased since 2009 and the tipped minimum cash wage hasn't increased since 1991. Raising the federal minimum wage and the tipped minimum wage is vital for women, who made up about two-thirds of all workers who earned minimum wage or less in 2012. 

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | Higher State Minimum Wages Promote Fair Pay for Women

October 02, 2013

Raising the minimum wage and the tipped minimum wage are important steps towards closing the wage gap for women.

 Read more...

Infographics and Internet Memes | 60% of Women’s Job Gains in the Recovery Are in Low-Wage Jobs

July 24, 2013

60% of Women’s Job Gains in the Recovery Are in Low-Wage Jobs

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | 60 Percent of Women’s Job Gains in the Recovery Are in the 10 Largest Low-Wage Jobs

July 23, 2013

Women have regained a large number of the jobs they lost during the recession, but their gains are highly concentrated in low-wage occupations. Sixty percent of the increase in employment for women between 2009 and 2012 was in the 10 largest occupations that typically pay less than $10.10 per hour. In contrast, these 10 low-wage occupations accounted for only 20 percent of men’s employment growth over the same period.

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | The Minimum Wage and the EITC: Complementary Strategies Helping Women Lift Their Families Out of Poverty

July 15, 2013

The minimum wage and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are two federal policies that help low-income workers, especially women, make ends meet and support their families.  Improvements to the minimum wage and EITC are necessary as important complements to – not substitutes for – one another. 

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