State releases minimum wage data

A study released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry suggests that 95,000 Minnesotans made $7.25 an hour or less in fiscal 2010.

While the U.S. minimum wage rate is $7.25, Minnesota's minimum wage is only $6.15 an hour, meaning that some workers here make far below what is considered a livable wage.  Some workers are covered by both state and federal minimum wage laws and as a result, would make the higher of the two wages.

Still, they are not getting rich.

In fact, the report found that:

•  after adjusting for inflation, hourly earnings averaged the same in 2010 as they did in 1970.
•  The younger the worker, the less the pay.
•  Some 28 percent of 15 to 19 year olds made minimum wage or less. 
•  Only 3.4 percent of 25 to 54 year olds made minimum wage. It was 3.3 percent for those over age 55.
•  High school dropouts made up 32 percent of all hourly workers at or below minimum wage.
•  29 percent of Minnesotans working at or below $7.25 an hour also received overtime, tips or commission pay. 
•  52 percent of restaurant workers making minimum wage also made overtime, tips or commission pay.
•  8.2 percent of all workers in non-metro areas toiled for minimum wage or less. In cities, the figure was 5.9 percent.