The rank of a 1991 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1991.svg

In 1991, 14.341% 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 1991. The green dashed line shows the base 1991 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 16,289,319 12.907% 35,918
1991 18,099,192 14.341% 37,500
1992 19,911,443 15.777% 39,178
1993 20,387,897 16.154% 39,687
1994 21,669,788 17.170% 40,884
1995 22,835,259 18.093% 41,994
1996 24,586,332 19.481% 43,704
1997 26,588,116 21.067% 45,663
1998 28,529,935 22.606% 47,534
1999 30,507,845 24.173% 49,547
2000 32,539,508 25.782% 51,685
2001 34,477,832 27.318% 53,699
2002 35,644,397 28.243% 55,049
2003 36,803,445 29.161% 56,496
2004 38,611,423 30.594% 58,624
2005 39,984,240 31.681% 60,421
2006 41,958,446 33.246% 62,880
2007 43,793,164 34.699% 65,370
2008 45,422,391 35.990% 67,684
2009 45,284,181 35.881% 67,964
2010 45,758,314 36.256% 69,034
2011 46,855,720 37.126% 70,961
2012 47,822,169 37.892% 72,514
2013 48,697,180 38.585% 73,864
2014 50,065,467 39.669% 75,915
2015 51,737,309 40.994% 78,314
2016 52,567,389 41.651% 79,243
2017 54,209,000 42.952% 81,412
2018 56,151,304 44.491% 84,178
2019 58,244,324 46.150% 87,080
2020 58,998,101 46.747% 89,951
2021 63,077,009 49.979% 94,947
2022 67,519,350 53.499% 101,147
2023 70,527,785 55.882% 105,739
  • 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 1991. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.