While precise global figures vary, a significant portion of minimum wage earners, especially in the US and UK, live in or near poverty, with studies showing many full-time minimum wage workers still fall below poverty thresholds or struggle with essentials, highlighting that the minimum wage often isn't a living wage, particularly for those with families. For example, in the US, millions of full-time minimum wage earners are considered the working poor, and in the UK, nearly 16% of jobs are low-paid, pushing many towards in-work poverty, notes the Real Living Wage Foundation and Resolve Poverty.
The Federal Minimum Wage is a Poverty Wage
Among those 6.4 million workers, almost three million worked full time, yet were still considered the working poor. This was due, in large part, to low wages and earnings.
A higher minimum wage will most benefit families with the least income low- income and lower middle-class families.
About 789,000 workers had wages below the federal minimum. The percentage of hourly paid workers earning the prevailing federal minimum wage or less edged down from 1.3 percent in 2022 to 1.1 percent in 2023.
The real Living Wage is a voluntary pay-rate paid by over 15,000 UK employers. It is the only wage rate based on the cost of living. The UK Real Living Wage rate is £12.60. Due to higher living costs, the London Living Wage rate, which is also voluntary, is higher, at £13.85.
Earning a 25k salary in the UK can provide a reasonable income to cover living costs and maintain a comfortable lifestyle in many regions. While it might be more challenging to afford housing in expensive areas, there are still options available in other parts of the country.
Luxembourg. Luxembourg offers the highest minimum wage of any country worldwide at US$3,670 (€3,165) per month for skilled talent over the age of 18. Unskilled talent and talent under the age of 18 receive a lower monthly minimum wage: Unskilled workers 18 years of age and older: US$3,051 (€2,638)
19k is 32nd percentile (32% have an income <= 19k). 50th percentile is 24.4k (50% earn more, 50% earn less). 30k is at the 63rd percentile, i.e. only ~1/3 earn more than 30k.
Households with an income of less than £296 a week are considered to be in relative low income, according to the latest Government statistics. The report shows that the mean UK household income is £594 per week. However, this is slightly skewed due to higher incomes.
According to the most recent report issued in January 2023, the poverty threshold for a family of four is $29,960. For an individual, the poverty threshold is $14,891. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues its poverty guidelines based on the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds.
A broad definition of low household income, as suggested by the Government, applies to annual earnings less than 60% of the median UK household income. For London, this cut-off point is approximately £21,000[75]. As of 2012, 41% of Londoners can be classed as having a low annual household income of below £20,0001[2].
In 2025, the federal minimum wage is officially a “poverty wage.” The annual earnings of a single adult working full-time, year-round at $7.25 an hour now fall below the poverty threshold of $15,650 (established by the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines).
The working poor are people who spent at least 27 weeks in the labor force (that is, working or looking for work) but whose incomes still fell below the official poverty level.
How many people are paid at the NMW? The Low Pay Commission estimated that there were around 1.9 million workers paid at or below the minimum wage in 2024, around 6.5% of all UK workers.
The U.S. federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour as of 2025.
Minimum Wages in China remained unchanged at 2740 CNY/Month in 2026 from 2740 CNY/Month in 2025. Minimum Wages in China averaged 1952.27 CNY/Month from 2006 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 2740.00 CNY/Month in 2025 and a record low of 690.00 CNY/Month in 2006.
Switzerland tops the list of countries with the highest monthly salaries in 2025, offering an impressive average of USD 8,247. Luxembourg follows in second place with USD 6,764, driven by its strong financial sector and high standard of living.
no experience necessary 30k jobs
30 to 39-year-olds – £722 per week (£37,544 per annum) 40 to 49-year-olds – £770 per week (£40,040 per annum) 50 to 59-year-olds – £727 per week (£37,804) 60+ year-olds – £651 per week (£33,852 per annum)
Most Brits say you now need around £2,000 a month after tax just to live a reasonable lifestyle in the UK.
$40 an hour is how much a year? Therefore, an hourly rate of $40, working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, would result in an annual salary of $83,200.