The rank of a 1995 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1995.svg

In 1995, 18.093% 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 1995. The green dashed line shows the base 1995 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 17,322,384 12.907% 32,228
1991 19,247,039 14.341% 33,706
1992 21,174,223 15.777% 35,216
1993 21,680,893 16.154% 35,530
1994 23,044,082 17.170% 36,537
1995 24,283,467 18.093% 37,500
1996 26,145,592 19.481% 39,023
1997 28,274,329 21.067% 40,746
1998 30,339,298 22.606% 42,379
1999 32,442,646 24.173% 44,113
2000 34,603,157 25.782% 45,977
2001 36,664,409 27.318% 47,737
2002 37,904,958 28.243% 48,945
2003 39,137,512 29.161% 50,187
2004 41,060,151 30.594% 51,963
2005 42,520,033 31.681% 53,454
2006 44,619,442 33.246% 55,625
2007 46,570,518 34.699% 57,744
2008 48,303,070 35.990% 59,802
2009 48,156,094 35.881% 60,000
2010 48,660,297 36.256% 60,858
2011 49,827,300 37.126% 62,409
2012 50,855,041 37.892% 63,734
2013 51,785,546 38.585% 64,900
2014 53,240,609 39.669% 66,652
2015 55,018,478 40.994% 68,760
2016 55,901,202 41.651% 69,579
2017 57,646,924 42.952% 71,501
2018 59,712,409 44.491% 73,936
2019 61,938,167 46.150% 76,484
2020 62,739,748 46.747% 78,830
2021 67,077,340 49.979% 83,249
2022 71,801,414 53.499% 88,770
2023 75,000,642 55.882% 92,906
  • 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 1995. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.