The rank of a 2005 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2005, 31.681% 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 2005. The green dashed line shows the base 2005 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 19,567,051 12.907% 22,775
1991 21,741,107 14.341% 23,806
1992 23,918,018 15.777% 24,785
1993 24,490,344 16.154% 25,016
1994 26,030,177 17.170% 25,702
1995 27,430,164 18.093% 26,353
1996 29,533,587 19.481% 27,436
1997 31,938,169 21.067% 28,747
1998 34,270,721 22.606% 30,093
1999 36,646,625 24.173% 31,300
2000 39,087,098 25.782% 32,544
2001 41,415,452 27.318% 33,822
2002 42,816,753 28.243% 34,609
2003 44,209,024 29.161% 35,373
2004 46,380,803 30.594% 36,552
2005 48,029,858 31.681% 37,500
2006 50,401,313 33.246% 38,957
2007 52,605,212 34.699% 40,376
2008 54,562,272 35.990% 41,630
2009 54,396,251 35.881% 41,595
2010 54,965,789 36.256% 42,028
2011 56,284,014 37.126% 42,960
2012 57,444,932 37.892% 43,787
2013 58,496,013 38.585% 44,556
2014 60,139,627 39.669% 45,746
2015 62,147,875 40.994% 47,145
2016 63,144,984 41.651% 47,803
2017 65,116,920 42.952% 49,316
2018 67,450,054 44.491% 51,042
2019 69,964,230 46.150% 52,890
2020 70,869,682 46.747% 54,245
2021 75,769,346 49.979% 57,652
2022 81,105,575 53.499% 61,795
2023 84,719,365 55.882% 64,976
  • 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 2005. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.