These workers now average $8.25 to $9 an hour.

In 1986 the Korean worker averaged about 54.7 hours a week.

Ms. Clark said Wal-Mart's full-time hourly workers averaged $9.64 an hour, or $18,046 a year.

With these workers averaging $30,000 year in pay, the contract would increase their wages by 32 percent over eight years.

In 2008, workers averaged 29.6 hours per week.

Mr. Miota says workers here average $10.50 an hour in wages and benefits, or more than $15 before the peso's plunge.

Raises for executives and other white-collar workers will average only 5.5 percent this year, the smallest increase in 13 years, says the Conference Board.

At the bottom would be Petroleum County, Mont., where just 162 workers averaged $13,000 in wages.

Most workers averaged two shillings per shift, and were responsible for contributing a portion of their wages towards work clothes and bedding.

The company says its workers average $7.60 an hour.