The rank of a 1996 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1996.svg

In 1996, 19.481% 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 1996. The green dashed line shows the base 1996 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 17,625,554 12.907% 31,087
1991 19,583,894 14.341% 32,432
1992 21,544,807 15.777% 33,823
1993 22,060,344 16.154% 34,159
1994 23,447,391 17.170% 35,220
1995 24,708,467 18.093% 36,098
1996 26,603,183 19.481% 37,500
1997 28,769,176 21.067% 39,185
1998 30,870,285 22.606% 40,794
1999 33,010,445 24.173% 42,403
2000 35,208,769 25.782% 44,199
2001 37,306,096 27.318% 45,896
2002 38,568,356 28.243% 47,023
2003 39,822,482 29.161% 48,170
2004 41,778,771 30.594% 49,950
2005 43,264,203 31.681% 51,324
2006 45,400,355 33.246% 53,359
2007 47,385,578 34.699% 55,396
2008 49,148,453 35.990% 57,299
2009 48,998,904 35.881% 57,471
2010 49,511,931 36.256% 58,300
2011 50,699,359 37.126% 59,808
2012 51,745,088 37.892% 61,032
2013 52,691,877 38.585% 62,101
2014 54,172,407 39.669% 63,795
2015 55,981,391 40.994% 65,806
2016 56,879,565 41.651% 66,565
2017 58,655,839 42.952% 68,439
2018 60,757,473 44.491% 70,790
2019 63,022,186 46.150% 73,237
2020 63,837,796 46.747% 75,462
2021 68,251,303 49.979% 79,719
2022 73,058,056 53.499% 84,998
2023 76,313,276 55.882% 89,007
  • 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 1996. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.