The rank of a 2004 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2004.svg

In 2004, 30.594% 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 2004. The green dashed line shows the base 2004 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 19,287,671 12.907% 23,407
1991 21,430,685 14.341% 24,505
1992 23,576,515 15.777% 25,435
1993 24,140,669 16.154% 25,634
1994 25,658,516 17.170% 26,358
1995 27,038,513 18.093% 27,043
1996 29,111,904 19.481% 28,183
1997 31,482,153 21.067% 29,569
1998 33,781,400 22.606% 30,826
1999 36,123,381 24.173% 32,091
2000 38,529,009 25.782% 33,404
2001 40,824,118 27.318% 34,756
2002 42,205,411 28.243% 35,505
2003 43,577,803 29.161% 36,254
2004 45,718,573 30.594% 37,500
2005 47,344,083 31.681% 38,508
2006 49,681,678 33.246% 40,042
2007 51,854,110 34.699% 41,409
2008 53,783,227 35.990% 42,744
2009 53,619,576 35.881% 42,726
2010 54,180,982 36.256% 43,195
2011 55,480,386 37.126% 44,188
2012 56,624,728 37.892% 45,055
2013 57,660,802 38.585% 45,785
2014 59,280,947 39.669% 46,995
2015 61,260,522 40.994% 48,464
2016 62,243,394 41.651% 49,145
2017 64,187,174 42.952% 50,650
2018 66,486,996 44.491% 52,391
2019 68,965,274 46.150% 54,329
2020 69,857,798 46.747% 55,728
2021 74,687,505 49.979% 59,219
2022 79,947,542 53.499% 63,390
2023 83,509,734 55.882% 66,610
  • 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 2004. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.