Yes, undocumented immigrants typically receive lower wages compared to U.S.-born workers and legal immigrants.
Significant Wage Disparity for Undocumented Workers
Research clearly indicates a notable gap in earnings. On average, the hourly wages for undocumented workers are 42 percent lower than the wages earned by U.S.-born workers and legal immigrants. This represents a substantial difference in compensation within the labor market.
Explaining the Wage Gap
This considerable disparity in hourly earnings largely reflects existing differences between these distinct groups of workers. It implies that the wage variations are, to a significant extent, attributed to underlying characteristics or circumstances that differentiate undocumented workers from U.S.-born individuals and legal immigrants. The data points to these group-specific differences as a primary reason for the observed wage disadvantage.
This highlights that while immigration status plays a role, the overall wage disparity is rooted in a broader set of factors related to the composition and opportunities available to these different worker populations.