The rank of a 2003 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2003.svg

In 2003, 29.161% 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 2003. The green dashed line shows the base 2003 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 19,066,121 12.907% 24,304
1991 21,184,519 14.341% 25,394
1992 23,305,700 15.777% 26,290
1993 23,863,374 16.154% 26,506
1994 25,363,786 17.170% 27,286
1995 26,727,932 18.093% 28,020
1996 28,777,506 19.481% 29,242
1997 31,120,530 21.067% 30,604
1998 33,393,366 22.606% 31,861
1999 35,708,445 24.173% 33,209
2000 38,086,441 25.782% 34,621
2001 40,355,187 27.318% 35,915
2002 41,720,614 28.243% 36,689
2003 43,077,242 29.161% 37,500
2004 45,193,421 30.594% 38,842
2005 46,800,259 31.681% 39,935
2006 49,111,004 33.246% 41,394
2007 51,258,482 34.699% 42,869
2008 53,165,439 35.990% 44,322
2009 53,003,668 35.881% 44,329
2010 53,558,626 36.256% 44,849
2011 54,843,104 37.126% 45,831
2012 55,974,302 37.892% 46,679
2013 56,998,474 38.585% 47,463
2014 58,600,010 39.669% 48,764
2015 60,556,846 40.994% 50,303
2016 61,528,428 41.651% 50,946
2017 63,449,881 42.952% 52,447
2018 65,723,285 44.491% 54,302
2019 68,173,096 46.150% 56,273
2020 69,055,368 46.747% 57,748
2021 73,829,598 49.979% 61,316
2022 79,029,215 53.499% 65,615
2023 82,550,490 55.882% 68,919
  • 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 2003. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.