The rank of a 2012 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2012, 37.892% 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 2012. The green dashed line shows the base 2012 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 19,828,920 12.907% 19,716
1991 22,032,071 14.341% 20,526
1992 24,238,117 15.777% 21,224
1993 24,818,102 16.154% 21,379
1994 26,378,543 17.170% 21,974
1995 27,797,266 18.093% 22,586
1996 29,928,839 19.481% 23,604
1997 32,365,603 21.067% 24,848
1998 34,729,371 22.606% 25,902
1999 37,137,072 24.173% 27,009
2000 39,610,207 25.782% 28,122
2001 41,969,721 27.318% 29,275
2002 43,389,776 28.243% 29,956
2003 44,800,680 29.161% 30,542
2004 47,001,524 30.594% 31,544
2005 48,672,649 31.681% 32,338
2006 51,075,841 33.246% 33,593
2007 53,309,236 34.699% 34,842
2008 55,292,487 35.990% 35,868
2009 55,124,244 35.881% 35,748
2010 55,701,404 36.256% 36,041
2011 57,037,272 37.126% 36,802
2012 58,213,727 37.892% 37,500
2013 59,278,874 38.585% 38,154
2014 60,944,485 39.669% 39,223
2015 62,979,610 40.994% 40,509
2016 63,990,063 41.651% 41,102
2017 65,988,389 42.952% 42,403
2018 68,352,748 44.491% 43,984
2019 70,900,572 46.150% 45,671
2020 71,818,141 46.747% 46,629
2021 76,783,379 49.979% 49,891
2022 82,191,023 53.499% 53,583
2023 85,853,178 55.882% 56,454
  • 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 2012. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.