The rank of a 1990 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1990.svg

In 1990, 12.907% of wage-earners were paid $37,500 or more. The left plot shows how the salary rank has varied over time. The graph increases, reflecting the impact of inflation.

The right plot shows the constant rank salary having the same rank in each year as $37,500 had in 1990. The green dashed line shows the base 1990 salary adjusted for cost of living changes using the consumer price index. When the salary line is steeper than the cost of living line the constant rank salary out-paces consumer price inflation, indicating a real improvement.

The table below the graphs gives exact values and the absolute position of each salary within all amounts reported by year.

Year Salary Rank Percent Exceeding Constant Rank Salary $
1990 16,456,729 12.907% 37,500
1991 18,285,202 14.341% 39,240
1992 20,116,079 15.777% 40,962
1993 20,597,429 16.154% 41,489
1994 21,892,494 17.170% 42,804
1995 23,069,943 18.093% 44,049
1996 24,839,012 19.481% 45,855
1997 26,861,369 21.067% 47,881
1998 28,823,145 22.606% 49,957
1999 30,821,382 24.173% 52,018
2000 32,873,925 25.782% 54,344
2001 34,832,170 27.318% 56,481
2002 36,010,724 28.243% 57,867
2003 37,181,684 29.161% 59,472
2004 39,008,243 30.594% 61,702
2005 40,395,169 31.681% 63,597
2006 42,389,664 33.246% 66,254
2007 44,243,238 34.699% 68,896
2008 45,889,209 35.990% 71,393
2009 45,749,578 35.881% 71,707
2010 46,228,584 36.256% 72,847
2011 47,337,268 37.126% 74,958
2012 48,313,650 37.892% 76,605
2013 49,197,654 38.585% 78,032
2014 50,580,003 39.669% 80,227
2015 52,269,026 40.994% 82,789
2016 53,107,638 41.651% 83,783
2017 54,766,120 42.952% 86,112
2018 56,728,386 44.491% 89,056
2019 58,842,916 46.150% 92,118
2020 59,604,439 46.747% 95,208
2021 63,725,268 49.979% 100,477
2022 68,213,264 53.499% 107,047
2023 71,252,617 55.882% 111,978
  • Position shows the position of a nominal salary of $37,500 each year, amongst all US wage earners. The highest paid individual has position 1. The 1 millionth highest paid individual has a position of 1,000,000, etc. Position is not plotted. The total number of individuals reporting varies by year.
  • Salary Rank shows proportion of salaries exceeding a nominal salary of $37,500 in each year. A value of 10% means that 10% of salaries are greater and 90% are smaller, a value of 0.1% means 0.1% (one in one thousand) of salaries are greater, etc. Lower positions and lower salary ranks correspond to higher salaries.
  • Constant Rank $ shows the nominal salary each year with the same salary rank as $37,500 in 1990. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.