The rank of a 2011 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2011.svg

In 2011, 37.126% 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 2011. The green dashed line shows the base 2011 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 19,538,320 12.907% 20,113
1991 21,709,183 14.341% 20,876
1992 23,882,898 15.777% 21,603
1993 24,454,383 16.154% 21,766
1994 25,991,955 17.170% 22,389
1995 27,389,886 18.093% 23,025
1996 29,490,221 19.481% 24,085
1997 31,891,272 21.067% 25,296
1998 34,220,399 22.606% 26,351
1999 36,592,814 24.173% 27,498
2000 39,029,704 25.782% 28,657
2001 41,354,639 27.318% 29,861
2002 42,753,882 28.243% 30,461
2003 44,144,109 29.161% 31,065
2004 46,312,698 30.594% 32,108
2005 47,959,332 31.681% 32,936
2006 50,327,305 33.246% 34,245
2007 52,527,968 34.699% 35,461
2008 54,482,154 35.990% 36,507
2009 54,316,377 35.881% 36,394
2010 54,885,078 36.256% 36,709
2011 56,201,369 37.126% 37,500
2012 57,360,582 37.892% 38,225
2013 58,410,119 38.585% 38,905
2014 60,051,319 39.669% 40,013
2015 62,056,619 40.994% 41,240
2016 63,052,264 41.651% 41,848
2017 65,021,304 42.952% 43,203
2018 67,351,012 44.491% 44,839
2019 69,861,496 46.150% 46,475
2020 70,765,619 46.747% 47,493
2021 75,658,089 49.979% 50,753
2022 80,986,482 53.499% 54,535
2023 84,594,966 55.882% 57,421
  • 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 2011. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.