The rank of a 1994 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1994.svg

In 1994, 17.170% 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 1994. The green dashed line shows the base 1994 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 16,852,503 12.907% 33,062
1991 18,724,950 14.341% 34,640
1992 20,599,858 15.777% 36,072
1993 21,092,784 16.154% 36,427
1994 22,418,995 17.170% 37,500
1995 23,624,761 18.093% 38,527
1996 25,436,375 19.481% 40,123
1997 27,507,369 21.067% 41,820
1998 29,516,324 22.606% 43,540
1999 31,562,617 24.173% 45,338
2000 33,664,523 25.782% 47,235
2001 35,669,862 27.318% 49,086
2002 36,876,760 28.243% 50,326
2003 38,075,880 29.161% 51,563
2004 39,946,367 30.594% 53,437
2005 41,366,648 31.681% 55,016
2006 43,409,109 33.246% 57,230
2007 45,307,261 34.699% 59,469
2008 46,992,816 35.990% 61,531
2009 46,849,827 35.881% 61,738
2010 47,340,353 36.256% 62,650
2011 48,475,700 37.126% 64,311
2012 49,475,564 37.892% 65,689
2013 50,380,827 38.585% 66,871
2014 51,796,421 39.669% 68,715
2015 53,526,064 40.994% 70,889
2016 54,384,844 41.651% 71,711
2017 56,083,212 42.952% 73,699
2018 58,092,669 44.491% 76,195
2019 60,258,052 46.150% 78,815
2020 61,037,890 46.747% 81,265
2021 65,257,821 49.979% 85,820
2022 69,853,751 53.499% 91,495
2023 72,966,199 55.882% 95,730
  • 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 1994. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.