The rank of a 2000 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2000, 25.782% 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 2000. The green dashed line shows the base 2000 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 19,116,659 12.907% 26,385
1991 21,240,672 14.341% 27,531
1992 23,367,476 15.777% 28,621
1993 23,926,628 16.154% 28,884
1994 25,431,017 17.170% 29,822
1995 26,798,779 18.093% 30,573
1996 28,853,786 19.481% 31,767
1997 31,203,020 21.067% 33,210
1998 33,481,881 22.606% 34,683
1999 35,803,096 24.173% 36,066
2000 38,187,396 25.782% 37,500
2001 40,462,155 27.318% 38,964
2002 41,831,201 28.243% 39,911
2003 43,191,425 29.161% 40,788
2004 45,313,214 30.594% 42,193
2005 46,924,311 31.681% 43,344
2006 49,241,180 33.246% 45,071
2007 51,394,351 34.699% 46,665
2008 53,306,363 35.990% 48,242
2009 53,144,163 35.881% 48,308
2010 53,700,592 36.256% 48,907
2011 54,988,475 37.126% 50,077
2012 56,122,671 37.892% 51,011
2013 57,149,558 38.585% 51,858
2014 58,755,339 39.669% 53,251
2015 60,717,362 40.994% 54,926
2016 61,691,519 41.651% 55,603
2017 63,618,065 42.952% 57,220
2018 65,897,495 44.491% 59,242
2019 68,353,800 46.150% 61,347
2020 69,238,410 46.747% 63,025
2021 74,025,295 49.979% 66,769
2022 79,238,695 53.499% 71,376
2023 82,769,303 55.882% 74,907
  • 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 2000. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.