By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
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Dallas, TX – A newly released government report shows Texans are earning less than workers in other parts of the country. KERA's Shelley Kofler reports Texas leads the nation in minimum wage jobs.
Last year CEO Magazine named Texas the best state for business, and Governor Rick Perry bragged that Texas is creating more job than any other state.
But a report released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that while Texas is creating jobs, workers here are earning less.
The report found that in 2010 Texas tied Mississippi for having more workers earning minimum wage or less than any other state in the country. Some 9.5% of Texas workers earned minimum wage or less compared to a national average of 6%.
Our median salary was lower too. Texans earned $11.20 an hour while across the nation workers earned $12.50.
Regional Economist Cheryl Abbot at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Dallas says the numbers aren't too surprising.
Abbot: Our wages started out less than a number of other states 50, 60, 70 years ago. So, if we're all going up at the same rate the wage is still going to be a little lower in the State of Texas. Plus we have a minimum wage that matches the federal minimum wage whereas a number of states- about 18 -have state minimum wages that are above the federal.
On the other hand the cost of living in Texas is lower than some other states so a dollar sometimes buys more.
One place where Texas is in step with the rest of the country is paying men more than women- over 18% more.
The median hourly wage for Texas men is $12.13 while women earn $10.24.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.