The rank of a 1992 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1992.svg

In 1992, 15.777% 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 1992. The green dashed line shows the base 1992 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 16,405,200 12.907% 34,456
1991 18,227,948 14.341% 35,991
1992 20,053,092 15.777% 37,500
1993 20,532,935 16.154% 37,925
1994 21,823,945 17.170% 39,110
1995 22,997,707 18.093% 40,216
1996 24,761,237 19.481% 41,768
1997 26,777,262 21.067% 43,615
1998 28,732,895 22.606% 45,442
1999 30,724,875 24.173% 47,270
2000 32,770,991 25.782% 49,339
2001 34,723,104 27.318% 51,241
2002 35,897,968 28.243% 52,494
2003 37,065,261 29.161% 53,866
2004 38,886,101 30.594% 55,859
2005 40,268,684 31.681% 57,508
2006 42,256,935 33.246% 59,919
2007 44,104,705 34.699% 62,201
2008 45,745,522 35.990% 64,408
2009 45,606,328 35.881% 64,652
2010 46,083,834 36.256% 65,629
2011 47,189,047 37.126% 67,395
2012 48,162,372 37.892% 68,877
2013 49,043,608 38.585% 70,165
2014 50,421,629 39.669% 72,067
2015 52,105,363 40.994% 74,363
2016 52,941,349 41.651% 75,246
2017 54,594,638 42.952% 77,280
2018 56,550,760 44.491% 79,911
2019 58,658,668 46.150% 82,642
2020 59,417,808 46.747% 85,286
2021 63,525,733 49.979% 90,069
2022 67,999,677 53.499% 95,977
2023 71,029,513 55.882% 100,374
  • 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 1992. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.