The rank of a 2010 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2010, 36.256% 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 2010. The green dashed line shows the base 2010 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 19,411,581 12.907% 20,490
1991 21,568,363 14.341% 21,290
1992 23,727,978 15.777% 22,051
1993 24,295,756 16.154% 22,224
1994 25,823,354 17.170% 22,881
1995 27,212,217 18.093% 23,545
1996 29,298,928 19.481% 24,656
1997 31,684,405 21.067% 25,784
1998 33,998,423 22.606% 26,882
1999 36,355,449 24.173% 28,076
2000 38,776,532 25.782% 29,292
2001 41,086,386 27.318% 30,445
2002 42,476,553 28.243% 31,048
2003 43,857,761 29.161% 31,683
2004 46,012,284 30.594% 32,775
2005 47,648,237 31.681% 33,645
2006 50,000,850 33.246% 35,015
2007 52,187,238 34.699% 36,163
2008 54,128,748 35.990% 37,262
2009 53,964,046 35.881% 37,159
2010 54,529,058 36.256% 37,500
2011 55,836,810 37.126% 38,327
2012 56,988,504 37.892% 39,084
2013 58,031,234 38.585% 39,794
2014 59,661,788 39.669% 40,833
2015 61,654,080 40.994% 42,104
2016 62,643,266 41.651% 42,732
2017 64,599,534 42.952% 44,152
2018 66,914,130 44.491% 45,749
2019 69,408,330 46.150% 47,427
2020 70,306,587 46.747% 48,517
2021 75,167,322 49.979% 51,757
2022 80,461,151 53.499% 55,615
2023 84,046,228 55.882% 58,564
  • 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 2010. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.