The rank of a 2008 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2008.svg

In 2008, 35.990% 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 2008. The green dashed line shows the base 2008 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 20,061,535 12.907% 20,609
1991 22,290,531 14.341% 21,420
1992 24,522,456 15.777% 22,192
1993 25,109,245 16.154% 22,368
1994 26,687,991 17.170% 23,037
1995 28,123,357 18.093% 23,709
1996 30,279,937 19.481% 24,836
1997 32,745,286 21.067% 25,938
1998 35,136,784 22.606% 27,049
1999 37,572,730 24.173% 28,258
2000 40,074,877 25.782% 29,492
2001 42,462,071 27.318% 30,621
2002 43,898,785 28.243% 31,232
2003 45,326,240 29.161% 31,877
2004 47,552,902 30.594% 32,985
2005 49,243,631 31.681% 33,868
2006 51,675,016 33.246% 35,220
2007 53,934,611 34.699% 36,384
2008 55,941,127 35.990% 37,500
2009 55,770,911 35.881% 37,400
2010 56,354,842 36.256% 37,749
2011 57,706,380 37.126% 38,588
2012 58,896,636 37.892% 39,355
2013 59,974,279 38.585% 40,065
2014 61,659,429 39.669% 41,091
2015 63,718,428 40.994% 42,377
2016 64,740,736 41.651% 43,011
2017 66,762,504 42.952% 44,451
2018 69,154,600 44.491% 46,029
2019 71,732,312 46.150% 47,727
2020 72,660,645 46.747% 48,839
2021 77,684,131 49.979% 52,073
2022 83,155,212 53.499% 55,946
2023 86,860,328 55.882% 58,923
  • 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 2008. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.