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Report: CEOs Earn 331 Times As Much As Average Workers, 774 Times As Much As Minimum Wage Earners

This article is more than 9 years old.

With CEO compensation analysis season in full swing, the AFL-CIO released data this morning stating that American CEOs in 2013 earned an average of $11.7 million--an eye-popping 331 times the average worker's $35,293.

Though down from 2012's 354-to-1 CEO-to-worker pay ratio, the multiple more than doubles when compared to minimum wage workers; the average CEO in 2013 out-earned this group 774 times over.

The data was released as part of AFL-CIO PayWatch 2014, which focuses on summary compensation and highlights worker narratives from five companies-- including Wal-Mart, Darden Restaurants , and T-Mobile-- known for low worker wages and high executive compensation.

Information is further broken into categories including compensation by industry and state. As of April 2014, Michigan, Nebraska, and Rhode Island have the greatest CEO to minimum wage worker pay ratios, with New York and Colorado following close behind.

Data used to calculate average worker compensation was based on BLS information for production and nonsupervisory employees.

“People who earn minimum wage, for instance, can’t afford cell phones from T-Mobile or dinner at Red Lobster or the Olive Garden, both of which are owned by Darden Restaurants,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in a statement from the organization.

“America’s CEOs—as exemplified by the individuals of these companies—are cannibalizing their own consumer base."

Follow me on Twitter @KathrynDill.