Some characteristics of minimum wage workers tend to be young. Among hourly-paid workers age 16 and over, about 5 percent of those who had less than a high school diploma earned the Federal minimum wage or less, compared with about 3 percent of those who had a high school diploma (with no college) and about 2 percent of college graduates. About 4 percent of women paid hourly rates had wages at or below the prevailing Federal minimum, compared with about 2 percent of men. Part-time workers (persons who usually work less than 35 hours per week) were more likely than their full-time counterparts to be paid the Federal minimum wage or less (about 7 percent versus about 2 percent).
