The rank of a 1999 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_1999.svg

In 1999, 24.173% 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 1999. The green dashed line shows the base 1999 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 18,722,625 12.907% 27,460
1991 20,802,858 14.341% 28,720
1992 22,885,824 15.777% 29,922
1993 23,433,451 16.154% 30,176
1994 24,906,831 17.170% 31,019
1995 26,246,401 18.093% 31,807
1996 28,259,050 19.481% 33,098
1997 30,559,861 21.067% 34,662
1998 32,791,750 22.606% 36,062
1999 35,065,121 24.173% 37,500
2000 37,400,275 25.782% 39,068
2001 39,628,147 27.318% 40,578
2002 40,968,974 28.243% 41,499
2003 42,301,161 29.161% 42,450
2004 44,379,215 30.594% 43,978
2005 45,957,105 31.681% 45,214
2006 48,226,219 33.246% 46,921
2007 50,335,008 34.699% 48,660
2008 52,207,609 35.990% 50,350
2009 52,048,753 35.881% 50,440
2010 52,593,712 36.256% 51,051
2011 53,855,049 37.126% 52,225
2012 54,965,867 37.892% 53,252
2013 55,971,588 38.585% 54,177
2014 57,544,271 39.669% 55,650
2015 59,465,852 40.994% 57,369
2016 60,419,930 41.651% 58,076
2017 62,306,766 42.952% 59,804
2018 64,539,213 44.491% 61,833
2019 66,944,888 46.150% 64,025
2020 67,811,264 46.747% 65,834
2021 72,499,482 49.979% 69,718
2022 77,605,422 53.499% 74,452
2023 81,063,258 55.882% 78,034
  • 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 1999. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.