The rank of a 2007 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2007, 34.699% 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 2007. The green dashed line shows the base 2007 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 20,079,070 12.907% 21,208
1991 22,310,014 14.341% 22,078
1992 24,543,890 15.777% 22,906
1993 25,131,192 16.154% 23,098
1994 26,711,318 17.170% 23,822
1995 28,147,939 18.093% 24,539
1996 30,306,404 19.481% 25,581
1997 32,773,908 21.067% 26,713
1998 35,167,496 22.606% 27,893
1999 37,605,571 24.173% 29,179
2000 40,109,906 25.782% 30,406
2001 42,499,186 27.318% 31,505
2002 43,937,155 28.243% 32,164
2003 45,365,858 29.161% 32,860
2004 47,594,467 30.594% 34,047
2005 49,286,673 31.681% 34,997
2006 51,720,183 33.246% 36,252
2007 53,981,753 34.699% 37,500
2008 55,990,024 35.990% 38,703
2009 55,819,658 35.881% 38,618
2010 56,404,099 36.256% 39,010
2011 57,756,820 37.126% 39,908
2012 58,948,116 37.892% 40,635
2013 60,026,701 38.585% 41,303
2014 61,713,323 39.669% 42,396
2015 63,774,122 40.994% 43,755
2016 64,797,323 41.651% 44,419
2017 66,820,859 42.952% 45,843
2018 69,215,045 44.491% 47,443
2019 71,795,011 46.150% 49,242
2020 72,724,156 46.747% 50,420
2021 77,752,032 49.979% 53,669
2022 83,227,895 53.499% 57,611
2023 86,936,249 55.882% 60,671
  • 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 2007. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.