The rank of a 1997 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1997.svg

In 1997, 21.067% 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 1997. The green dashed line shows the base 1997 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 17,985,384 12.907% 29,901
1991 19,983,704 14.341% 31,134
1992 21,984,649 15.777% 32,358
1993 22,510,711 16.154% 32,657
1994 23,926,075 17.170% 33,660
1995 25,212,896 18.093% 34,608
1996 27,146,293 19.481% 35,951
1997 29,356,505 21.067% 37,500
1998 31,500,509 22.606% 39,074
1999 33,684,361 24.173% 40,665
2000 35,927,564 25.782% 42,308
2001 38,067,709 27.318% 43,940
2002 39,355,738 28.243% 45,069
2003 40,635,467 29.161% 46,105
2004 42,631,694 30.594% 47,734
2005 44,147,451 31.681% 49,089
2006 46,327,214 33.246% 51,027
2007 48,352,965 34.699% 52,910
2008 50,151,829 35.990% 54,750
2009 49,999,228 35.881% 54,902
2010 50,522,729 36.256% 55,644
2011 51,734,398 37.126% 56,998
2012 52,801,475 37.892% 58,171
2013 53,767,594 38.585% 59,213
2014 55,278,349 39.669% 60,828
2015 57,124,264 40.994% 62,712
2016 58,040,774 41.651% 63,449
2017 59,853,311 42.952% 65,264
2018 61,997,851 44.491% 67,484
2019 64,308,798 46.150% 69,875
2020 65,141,059 46.747% 71,911
2021 69,644,669 49.979% 76,037
2022 74,549,552 53.499% 81,088
2023 77,871,229 55.882% 84,954
  • 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 1997. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.