The rank of a 2009 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2009, 35.881% 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 2009. The green dashed line shows the base 2009 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 19,478,559 12.907% 20,658
1991 21,642,782 14.341% 21,474
1992 23,809,849 15.777% 22,251
1993 24,379,586 16.154% 22,428
1994 25,912,455 17.170% 23,101
1995 27,306,111 18.093% 23,777
1996 29,400,021 19.481% 24,911
1997 31,793,729 21.067% 26,001
1998 34,115,731 22.606% 27,118
1999 36,480,890 24.173% 28,334
2000 38,910,327 25.782% 29,575
2001 41,228,151 27.318% 30,694
2002 42,623,114 28.243% 31,309
2003 44,009,089 29.161% 31,958
2004 46,171,045 30.594% 33,073
2005 47,812,643 31.681% 33,961
2006 50,173,373 33.246% 35,305
2007 52,367,305 34.699% 36,476
2008 54,315,514 35.990% 37,599
2009 54,150,244 35.881% 37,500
2010 54,717,206 36.256% 37,853
2011 56,029,470 37.126% 38,697
2012 57,185,138 37.892% 39,467
2013 58,231,465 38.585% 40,167
2014 59,867,645 39.669% 41,199
2015 61,866,812 40.994% 42,490
2016 62,859,411 41.651% 43,127
2017 64,822,429 42.952% 44,575
2018 67,145,011 44.491% 46,145
2019 69,647,817 46.150% 47,852
2020 70,549,174 46.747% 48,973
2021 75,426,680 49.979% 52,204
2022 80,738,775 53.499% 56,083
2023 84,336,222 55.882% 59,073
  • 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 2009. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.