The rank of a 2002 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2002.svg

In 2002, 28.243% 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 2002. The green dashed line shows the base 2002 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 19,110,888 12.907% 24,921
1991 21,234,260 14.341% 25,933
1992 23,360,422 15.777% 26,877
1993 23,919,405 16.154% 27,105
1994 25,423,340 17.170% 27,923
1995 26,790,689 18.093% 28,691
1996 28,845,076 19.481% 29,971
1997 31,193,600 21.067% 31,261
1998 33,471,773 22.606% 32,572
1999 35,792,288 24.173% 33,977
2000 38,175,868 25.782% 35,390
2001 40,449,941 27.318% 36,683
2002 41,818,573 28.243% 37,500
2003 43,178,386 29.161% 38,355
2004 45,299,535 30.594% 39,764
2005 46,910,146 31.681% 40,801
2006 49,226,316 33.246% 42,322
2007 51,378,836 34.699% 43,871
2008 53,290,271 35.990% 45,364
2009 53,128,120 35.881% 45,385
2010 53,684,381 36.256% 45,882
2011 54,971,875 37.126% 46,900
2012 56,105,729 37.892% 47,795
2013 57,132,306 38.585% 48,617
2014 58,737,602 39.669% 49,981
2015 60,699,032 40.994% 51,465
2016 61,672,896 41.651% 52,126
2017 63,598,860 42.952% 53,681
2018 65,877,602 44.491% 55,577
2019 68,333,166 46.150% 57,576
2020 69,217,509 46.747% 59,136
2021 74,002,949 49.979% 62,709
2022 79,214,774 53.499% 67,086
2023 82,744,317 55.882% 70,474
  • 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 2002. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.