The rank of a 1998 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1998.svg

In 1998, 22.606% 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 1998. The green dashed line shows the base 1998 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 18,296,560 12.907% 28,624
1991 20,329,453 14.341% 30,009
1992 22,365,018 15.777% 31,093
1993 22,900,182 16.154% 31,361
1994 24,340,034 17.170% 32,279
1995 25,649,119 18.093% 33,142
1996 27,615,967 19.481% 34,541
1997 29,864,419 21.067% 36,045
1998 32,045,518 22.606% 37,500
1999 34,267,154 24.173% 39,051
2000 36,549,168 25.782% 40,675
2001 38,726,341 27.318% 42,183
2002 40,036,655 28.243% 43,206
2003 41,338,526 29.161% 44,250
2004 43,369,290 30.594% 45,823
2005 44,911,272 31.681% 47,063
2006 47,128,748 33.246% 48,924
2007 49,189,548 34.699% 50,750
2008 51,019,536 35.990% 52,449
2009 50,864,294 35.881% 52,568
2010 51,396,852 36.256% 53,259
2011 52,629,485 37.126% 54,556
2012 53,715,025 37.892% 55,647
2013 54,697,859 38.585% 56,601
2014 56,234,752 39.669% 58,146
2015 58,112,605 40.994% 60,019
2016 59,044,971 41.651% 60,709
2017 60,888,869 42.952% 62,419
2018 63,070,512 44.491% 64,586
2019 65,421,442 46.150% 66,838
2020 66,268,103 46.747% 68,777
2021 70,849,632 49.979% 72,762
2022 75,839,378 53.499% 77,647
2023 79,218,525 55.882% 81,369
  • 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 1998. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.