The rank of a 2006 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2006.svg

In 2006, 33.246% 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 2006. The green dashed line shows the base 2006 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 19,857,372 12.907% 21,931
1991 22,063,685 14.341% 22,875
1992 24,272,896 15.777% 23,772
1993 24,853,713 16.154% 23,983
1994 26,416,393 17.170% 24,775
1995 27,837,151 18.093% 25,430
1996 29,971,784 19.481% 26,437
1997 32,412,043 21.067% 27,651
1998 34,779,203 22.606% 28,916
1999 37,190,359 24.173% 30,240
2000 39,667,043 25.782% 31,394
2001 42,029,943 27.318% 32,575
2002 43,452,035 28.243% 33,292
2003 44,864,964 29.161% 34,049
2004 47,068,965 30.594% 35,283
2005 48,742,488 31.681% 36,153
2006 51,149,129 33.246% 37,500
2007 53,385,728 34.699% 38,851
2008 55,371,825 35.990% 40,141
2009 55,203,341 35.881% 40,084
2010 55,781,329 36.256% 40,471
2011 57,119,114 37.126% 41,322
2012 58,297,257 37.892% 42,088
2013 59,363,932 38.585% 42,802
2014 61,031,933 39.669% 43,978
2015 63,069,978 40.994% 45,384
2016 64,081,881 41.651% 46,012
2017 66,083,075 42.952% 47,445
2018 68,450,826 44.491% 49,155
2019 71,002,306 46.150% 50,968
2020 71,921,192 46.747% 52,184
2021 76,893,554 49.979% 55,559
2022 82,308,957 53.499% 59,625
2023 85,976,367 55.882% 62,659
  • 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 2006. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.