The rank of a 1993 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1993.svg

In 1993, 16.154% 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 1993. The green dashed line shows the base 1993 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 16,614,627 12.907% 34,060
1991 18,460,645 14.341% 35,626
1992 20,309,088 15.777% 37,095
1993 20,795,057 16.154% 37,500
1994 22,102,548 17.170% 38,653
1995 23,291,294 18.093% 39,758
1996 25,077,337 19.481% 41,302
1997 27,119,098 21.067% 43,106
1998 29,099,696 22.606% 44,932
1999 31,117,106 24.173% 46,722
2000 33,189,343 25.782% 48,741
2001 35,166,377 27.318% 50,650
2002 36,356,239 28.243% 51,879
2003 37,538,434 29.161% 53,212
2004 39,382,518 30.594% 55,194
2005 40,782,751 31.681% 56,800
2006 42,796,383 33.246% 59,155
2007 44,667,742 34.699% 61,436
2008 46,329,506 35.990% 63,590
2009 46,188,535 35.881% 63,824
2010 46,672,137 36.256% 64,803
2011 47,791,459 37.126% 66,527
2012 48,777,209 37.892% 67,971
2013 49,669,694 38.585% 69,236
2014 51,065,307 39.669% 71,134
2015 52,770,536 40.994% 73,375
2016 53,617,194 41.651% 74,250
2017 55,291,589 42.952% 76,280
2018 57,272,682 44.491% 78,855
2019 59,407,500 46.150% 81,566
2020 60,176,331 46.747% 84,148
2021 64,336,697 49.979% 88,862
2022 68,867,755 53.499% 94,722
2023 71,936,270 55.882% 99,062
  • 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 1993. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.