BLS: 6% of MO hourly workers earn minimum wage in 2012

Of the 1.5 million hourly workers in Missouri last year, the overwhelming majority were paid above minimum wage, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Roughly 6.3 percent of hourly Missouri workers earned the prevailing federal minimum wage or less last year. Of those workers, 49,000 earned the exact minimum wage, while 48,000 made less, according to a news release. During 2012, Missouri's minimum wage matched the U.S. rate at $7.25 per hour.

In accordance with Missouri law based on inflation adjustments, the state's minimum wage increased to $7.35 per hour at the beginning of 2013.

During 2012, 3.6 million workers nationwide earned at or below the federal minimum wage, representing 4.7 percent of U.S. hourly paid workers, the release said.